Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, decorated Italian and Swiss rescue teams with the Heroes of Venezuela medal on Wednesday for their participation in salvage operations following the double earthquake on June 24, which killed at least 2,295 people and injured 11,267.
“The mourning in our hearts today turns into gratitude,” acting pres. Rodríguez said at the ceremony. She declared seven days of national mourning starting Wednesday and confirmed that search and rescue operations are continuing, adding that “cooperation and friendship between peoples is possible.”
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Italian team leader Ciro Bolognese said his group tried to arrive “as soon as possible” and that they fought for their “efforts to be at least useful to keep hope alive.” He added they will carry Venezuela in their hearts forever.
On the other hand, Swiss Rescue leader Sebastian Eugster thanked the support and said another group is arriving, so Switzerland will maintain its presence.
Present at the event were Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, Foreign Minister Yván Gil, Defense Minister Gustavo González, and Parliament President Jorge Rodríguez. The deployment of 3,000 international rescue workers has rescued twelve people alive from under the rubble, the UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination team confirmed.
In its latest tally, the Venezuelan government indicated that 6,461 people have been rescued, with 51 international delegations from 30 countries, comprising 4,099 specialists, alongside 26,000 national rescue workers participating in the operation.
From teleSUR English via This RSS Feed.
Why is there no mention that IDF showed up?