CARACAS — The Israeli aid delegation's earthquake relief work in Venezuela will continue for an additional two weeks after Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodriguez requested an extension. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar met with Rodriguez on July 8, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved the extension. The delegation had been scheduled to depart on July 12.

Israeli experts are currently designing a post-earthquake national reconstruction plan for Venezuela, which the Venezuelan government approved within days of its presentation. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) delegation, consisting of 30 people, began mapping and categorizing approximately 1,300 buildings on Monday, July 6. These buildings were classified as either requiring demolition or being potentially salvageable.

IDF engineers are also providing guidance to Venezuela on managing debris from damaged structures. Brigadier General Elad Edri said, "The severity of the disaster warranted rapid, out-of-the-box thinking." The IDF delegation flew out of Israel on June 30 and landed in Valencia, Venezuela, on July 1, traveling domestically to Caracas.

Venezuela experienced an earthquake on June 24. The Venezuelan Information Ministry announced on July 5 that the earthquake's death toll had risen to 3,342, with 16,470 injured and 17,345 people left homeless. State officials confirmed that nearly 200 buildings collapsed, and an unofficial tally estimates around 41,000 people are missing.

Why It Matters

This extension of Israeli aid reflects ongoing international support for Venezuela following the recent earthquake that caused casualties and damage. The continued presence of Israeli experts in designing a national reconstruction plan and assisting with engineering assessments indicates an effort to address Venezuela's post-disaster needs. The initial deployment and subsequent extension show the immediate and longer-term challenges faced by Venezuela in recovery and rebuilding efforts.