Colombia restricts earthquake relief to four specific nations

Following a magnitude 7.4 earthquake in Colombia, the government of President Abelardo de la Espriella has authorized international search and rescue teams from only four countries: the United States, Israel, Ecuador, and El Salvador.

The decision has drawn scrutiny due to the ideological alignment of these nations with Espriella’s administration. While the Colombian government denies political bias, officials stated the selection was based on technical capacity and international certification. David Tamayo, director of the National Unit for Risk and Disaster Management (UNGRD), noted that the chosen groups are autonomous and will not require additional resources from local municipalities.

The authorization arrived more than two days after the earthquake, approaching the end of the critical 72-hour window for locating survivors. The move marks a significant shift in foreign policy compared to the previous administration under Gustavo Petro.