Argentina will deploy a contingent of 32 Armed Forces personnel and resources from the Argentine Army to Colombia to assist with the humanitarian response following the 7.4 magnitude earthquake that affected the country.
The mission will have its operations center in the city of Quibdó, in the Chocó department, one of the areas most affected by the quake. The operation will include capabilities for water collection, purification, and distribution, logistical support for hospitals, and a food distribution center with a field kitchen.
Additionally, Argentina will send 4,000 food solutions, intended both for the affected population and to ensure the self-sufficiency of the Argentine personnel during the deployment.
Argentina will send a Hercules C-130 with equipment
The operation will be supported by a Hercules C-130 from the Argentine Air Force, which will transport most of the necessary materials for carrying out the assistance tasks from the I Air Brigade in El Palomar.
Among the items sent are a field kitchen, a water purification plant, and various logistical support resources.
Meanwhile, an Embraer RJ-140 will transport the 32 members of the Argentine contingent who will be directly involved in the humanitarian mission.
The loading of the Hercules C-130 will begin at 16:00 at the I Air Brigade in El Palomar, while takeoff is scheduled for 19:00. The flight transporting the Argentine personnel will depart at 23:00.
A mission in one of the most affected areas
The contingent will have its operational base in Quibdó, a region that presents significant logistical challenges for the deployment of aid due to its geographical isolation, dense jungle, heavy rainfall, and limitations in road infrastructure.
The city is located on the banks of the Atrato River, a vital route for connecting with numerous communities in the region and facilitating the transfer of assistance.
A mission in one of the most affected areas
The Argentine capabilities will be primarily focused on addressing essential needs of the population, with special emphasis on access to drinking water, food, and logistical support to health facilities.
Health preparation to operate in the region
Before the deployment, the members of the Argentine contingent underwent specific health preparation to operate in a tropical environment.
The training included vaccinations and preventive measures against diseases endemic to the region, including malaria.
The preparation aims to reduce health risks for the Argentine personnel and ensure they can carry out assistance tasks under complex operational conditions.
The operation will be coordinated with Colombia
The mission will be coordinated by the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces, under the supervision of the Ministry of Defense, and will be carried out in conjunction with Colombian authorities.
The coordination will be conducted through the appropriate diplomatic channels of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, and Worship.
The Argentine contingent will be the only military deployment from the country aimed at providing humanitarian assistance in Colombia and will concentrate the capabilities provided by Argentina to collaborate with the response to the emergency caused by the earthquake.
In this way, the Argentine Armed Forces will contribute specialized personnel, air transport, water purification capacity, logistics, and food to assist the affected communities and reinforce the humanitarian response in one of the areas hardest hit by the disaster.
