El Salvador honors USAR team for humanitarian mission in Venezuela

The Legislative Assembly of El Salvador honored 300 rescuers and paramedics from the Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team for their humanitarian mission in Venezuela following magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes on June 24. The Salvadoran contingent, deployed by the government of President Nayib Bukele, focused their efforts primarily in the state of La Guaira.

During the mission, the team successfully rescued nine people from rubble, including 60-year-old Belkys Josefina Barreto García, who was found alive after approximately 86 hours. The mission also provided over 3,200 medical consultations, 1,100 veterinary services, and distributed more than 170 tons of humanitarian aid to affected communities.

Legislative Assembly President Ernesto Castro praised the specialists, stating they represented “a ray of hope and faith for many families” and acted as heroes by risking their lives to save others. The USAR team included members from the General Directorate of Civil Protection, the El Salvador Fire Department, and the National Civil Police.