Dutch USAR Team Departs Venezuela After Earthquake Rescue Efforts

The Dutch Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team has concluded its mission in Venezuela and is returning to the Netherlands. The specialized unit spent a week in the earthquake-affected region, focusing on the search for survivors.

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Jorg van Waardhuizen of the USAR team stated that the likelihood of finding living individuals has significantly diminished. “The need for other aid is much higher at this moment, think of tents, medical care, and survival supplies,” he explained, indicating the shift in priorities for disaster relief.

The USAR team is composed of professionals from various backgrounds, including defense, police, and regional safety authorities. Their deployment in disaster zones is typically limited to one week, coinciding with the period when the chances of finding survivors are highest.

Rising Death Toll

The death toll from the severe earthquakes that struck Venezuela last week has risen to 1,943, according to Venezuelan Parliament Speaker Jorge Rodríguez. He also reported that over ten thousand people have been injured.

Authorities have stated that 6,461 people have been rescued. This figure could potentially be closer to 20,000 if individuals who freed themselves or were assisted by friends and family in the heavily impacted La Guaira region are included.

While the Dutch USAR team did not rescue any survivors directly from the rubble this time, they collaborated with other international teams who were successful in their efforts. Van Waardhuizen mentioned seeing footage of a 3-year-old boy found by the Jordanian team, describing it as “very impressive.”

Transit and Return

The 64-member Dutch team, along with eight rescue dogs, is scheduled to fly from Venezuela to Curaçao. There, they will undergo medical and psychological evaluations. The plan is for the team to land in Eindhoven, Netherlands, on Sunday.

“We do this with mixed feelings, because there is much to be done in a country that was already in a humanitarian crisis before these earthquakes,” said Deputy Commander Martin Evers.

Venezuela’s Pre-existing Crisis

Venezuela has been grappling with significant economic challenges attributed to the economic mismanagement of President Maduro’s administration. The country has also been affected by sanctions imposed by successive US governments.

Key facts

This development is relevant to FootballGames10 readers as it highlights the international response to natural disasters and the critical role of specialized rescue teams. It underscores the complex humanitarian situation in Venezuela, which extends beyond the immediate earthquake crisis.

Source: NOS Voetbal – Nederlandse USAR-hulpverleners weg uit Venezuela, dodental op 1943 (https://nos.nl/l/2621112)