The president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, specified this Wednesday that the authorities of Colombia did not give the green light for the deployment of brigadistas from the Mexican Army to collaborate in the rescue efforts after the earthquake of magnitude 7.4 registered on Monday in the northwest of the country, which has caused more than 260 fatalities and nearly 500 missing persons.
"The brigade from the Secretariat of National Defense of Rescuers was not approved by the Government of Colombia," she stated in an appearance before the media, in which she detailed that the Colombian authorities "requested" a first certification and "now they are asking for another."
The head of the Mexican Executive emphasized, however, that the brigade, which she highlighted has gone to 98 countries, "is ready to leave at any moment." In parallel, she indicated that her Government has indeed sent "through Hercules planes, food supplies, medical supplies, and other things" requested by the Government of Abelardo de la Espriella.
According to Sheinbaum, the Mexican authorities plan to send to Colombia by this Friday more than 58 tons of humanitarian aid, including water and medicines.
Her words come after the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) communicated that it "only" accepts, for now, international support for the search and rescue of affected persons from four countries: Israel, the United States, El Salvador, and Ecuador.
The director of the UNGRD, David Tamayo, has pointed out that these States do "meet all the international requirements" demanded for this type of mission, during a press conference held this Wednesday on the occasion of his inauguration.