How the IDF helped thousands of Venezuelans return to damaged homes after earthquakes - exclusive

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have assisted tens of thousands of Venezuelans in returning to their homes, which were partially damaged by the June 24 earthquake. Israeli experts have certified these structures as safe for reoccupation, according to IDF Brig. Gen. (res.) Yossi Pinto, head of the Venezuelan delegation. This effort is part of a larger evaluation of hundreds of buildings, with many thousands more structures still requiring assessment.

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These tens of thousands of Venezuelans lived in some hundreds of buildings which initial checks by the combined Israeli-Venezuelan engineering teams have already established are safe enough – this out of many thousands of structures which still need to be evaluated

Pinto explained that combined Israeli-Venezuelan engineering teams are implementing a system to map which structures are usable, which require demolition, and the timeline for rebuilding. This system, developed by approximately 35 Israeli experts in engineering and disaster operations, categorizes structures based on damage levels and their consequences. The evaluation includes a range of buildings, from houses to skyscrapers up to 20 stories tall.

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The system will map out which structures might be usable, or need to be demolished, how to carry out the demolition process, and how much time it will take until new structures can be built.

For structures deemed too severely damaged for return, residents will face extended periods living in tents until alternative solutions are found. A key aspect of the IDF's mission involves transferring smart technology, professional resources, and AI-driven disaster management techniques to Venezuelan experts. This training aims to equip local teams with the capabilities for ongoing structural assessment and rehabilitation.

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Part of what the IDF experts have tried to do, he noted, is hand over and train Venezuelan experts in smart technology professional resources and new disaster-oriented uses of artificial intelligence.

The IDF delegation, which was intended as temporary assistance, has committed to supporting Venezuela remotely through these new technologies, enabling Israel to track the country's progress in disaster mapping. Pinto noted that the IDF has prior experience with similar projects, having conducted a comparable disaster mapping assistance project in Thailand approximately a year ago. He cautioned that the full rehabilitation of affected areas will likely take many years.

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it would take “many years to rehabilitate”