The Air Force transported the first batch of aid to assist in the areas affected by the earthquakes
Colonel Wissinger, commander of Civil Protection and Emergency of the Armed Forces, explained that the contingent carries tools and special equipment to intervene in collapsed structures once the dogs detect possible survivors. “The important thing is to buy time,” he stated, referring to the urgency that characterizes this type of mission in the first hours following a disaster.
The Government of Javier Milei sent the first Argentine humanitarian contingent to Venezuela this Friday, following the devastating seismic tragedy that occurred on June 24. The mission departed from the El Palomar Air Base and marks the beginning of the emergency assistance operation arranged by Argentina to collaborate with search, rescue, and support efforts for the affected population.
The operation was led by the Armed Forces of the Nation, with an aircraft from the Argentine Air Force transporting specialized military personnel, search dogs with their handlers, and equipment from the Argentine Navy. The mission is conducted by the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces and aims to provide concrete capability on the ground, especially in areas with collapsed structures and risk for trapped survivors.
According to the information released, the first group consists of 26 personnel and four specialized dog-handler teams for search and rescue. The Embraer ERJ-140LR T-94 aircraft took off from the I Air Brigade in El Palomar heading to Venezuela, where the Argentine contingent will join humanitarian assistance efforts alongside teams from other countries.
During the departure, the Minister of Defense, Carlos Presti, emphasized that this is a first response aimed at quickly reaching the emergency site. The operation was ordered by President Javier Milei and coordinated with the Chief of Cabinet, the Foreign Ministry, the Ministries of Security and Health, and the Federal Emergency Agency.
In the coming hours, two new aircraft will also depart with the brigade of the Argentine Federal Police and the PUMA brigade from the Province of Buenos Aires, expanding Argentina's operational capacity in search and rescue tasks. Additionally, a special consular mission will travel to assist Argentine citizens residing in Venezuela and families needing information.
This mission will have the task of establishing a direct humanitarian channel with Venezuelan authorities to address searches for missing persons, registration of the injured and deceased, situations involving unaccompanied minors, and emergency documentation for undocumented citizens.
The Argentine assistance also includes a second phase with two water purification plants, Army operators, emergency physicians, traumatologists, nurses, and assistants. The announced package also includes a Hercules C-130, an aircraft from Aerolíneas Argentinas, and brigades from the National Search and Rescue System.
