Venezuelan leader awards and bids farewell to international rescue groups

Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez has honored and seen off rescue workers from seven nations who contributed to the relief efforts following the recent devastating earthquakes. This ceremony follows a similar event the previous day where rescue teams from almost twenty other countries received the "Heroes of Venezuela" award.

During a televised event, 143 rescuers from Argentina, 22 from Barbados, 188 from Brazil, 87 from France, 46 from India, 161 from Qatar, and 69 from the United Kingdom, along with 29 rescue dogs, were recognized for their bravery and solidarity. Rodríguez hailed their efforts as a symbol of universal solidarity and wished them a safe return home.

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This is the universal solidarity that should inspire the peoples of the world.

Rodríguez, who assumed her role after Nicolás Maduro's capture by the United States six months prior, expressed that hope remains for finding people alive. The previous day, she had similarly honored rescuers from Spain, Germany, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Slovakia, Jordan, Lithuania, Mexico, Panama, Portugal, the Czech Republic, the Dominican Republic, Turkey, and Vietnam.

She conveyed that their "valor, solidarity, and spirit of service represent an example of brotherhood among nations" and that their dedication would be "forever in the memory and heart of the Venezuelan people." While international rescuers, numbering around 3,000 at their peak according to UN figures, have begun to depart as the likelihood of finding survivors diminishes, the official toll from the earthquakes stands at 2,954 dead and 16,592 injured, with 16,309 people left homeless.

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Your valor, solidarity, and spirit of service represent an example of brotherhood among nations. Your dedication will remain forever in the memory and heart of the Venezuelan people.