Peru honors 40 firefighters for Venezuela earthquake rescue efforts

The Peruvian government has bestowed its highest diplomatic honor, the Order 'Al Mérito del Servicio Diplomático del Perú José Gregorio Paz Soldán' in the degree of Grand Cross, upon forty members of the Volunteer Firefighters Corps of Peru. This recognition celebrates their critical role in search and rescue missions following the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24.

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You have brought honor to the name of Peru and shown that Peruvians are always willing to extend a hand when a brotherly people needs it most.

Foreign Minister Carlos Pareja and Interior Minister José Zapata led a ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Lima to pay tribute to these specialized urban search and rescue (USAR) professionals. The firefighters, accompanied by Kaira, a Belgian Shepherd known for her search capabilities, traveled to Venezuela to aid in the immediate aftermath of the powerful tremors, focusing on locating survivors and the missing.

Minister Pareja highlighted the Peruvian team's efforts, noting they worked for over a week under extreme conditions alongside international specialized teams. The USAR group included structural engineers, experts in collapsed buildings, medical personnel, paramedics, and psychologists, all dedicated to saving lives in the most adverse circumstances. Pareja emphasized that these volunteers risked their own safety to protect individuals they might never meet.

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For more than a week (the Peruvian rescuers) worked in extreme conditions alongside specialized teams from different countries.

Interior Minister Zapata added that the firefighters had brought honor to Peru, demonstrating the nation's willingness to extend aid to brotherly nations in need. During their deployment in the affected areas of La Guaira, the Peruvian brigade successfully rescued a 60-year-old woman who had been trapped under debris for nearly three days. The award underscores the significant humanitarian contribution made by these Peruvian volunteers in a time of crisis.

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All members of the USAR group are also volunteers and have decided to offer their time, their experience, and when necessary, risk their own safety to protect the lives of people they may never know.