Damascus, June 29 (SANA) A specialized Syrian search and rescue team departed Damascus on Saturday for Venezuela to take part in rescue efforts after the devastating twin earthquakes, marking Syria’s first overseas humanitarian search-and-rescue deployment in modern history.
The mission represents a significant step in Syria’s evolving humanitarian role and underscores its growing capacity to contribute to international disaster response efforts.
The deployment reflects Syria’s effort to position itself as a contributor to international humanitarian operations after years of receiving foreign disaster assistance. It also highlights the country’s transformation from a recipient of humanitarian aid following the devastating February 2023 earthquake into a provider of search-and-rescue expertise capable of supporting other nations in times of crisis.
A Landmark Mission in Partnership with Qatar
Under the directives of President Ahmad al-Sharaa, a team of 15 highly trained search and rescue specialists from the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management departed from Damascus International Airport.
The mission is being carried out in strategic partnership with the International Search and Rescue Team of Qatar‘s Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya). While the Syrian side contributes experienced rescue personnel, the Qatari partner provides the heavy machinery and specialized equipment required for field operations.
From Isolation to International Solidarity
Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al-Saleh described the deployment as embodying the principle that “Syria does not forget its own suffering; it transforms it into solidarity with others.”
Reflecting on the aftermath of the February 2023 earthquake, al-Saleh recalled that the country’s hardest-hit areas remained beyond the reach of international rescue teams during the critical early hours due to political circumstances. He noted that the deposed regime prevented humanitarian teams and aid convoys from accessing the affected areas in the countryside of Idlib and Aleppo.
“Faced with an unprecedented disaster and extremely limited resources, Syrian Civil Defense volunteers and local communities searched through the rubble with their bare hands in pursuit of survivors,” he said. “Despite the absence of international assistance, hundreds of lives were saved through determination, experience, and sacrifice.”
Syria Emerges as a Hub for Rescue Expertise
What distinguishes the Syrian team heading to Venezuela is not only its humanitarian commitment, but also the exceptional field experience accumulated over more than 14 years of war and the 2023 earthquake under some of the world’s most challenging operational conditions.
Hossam Badawi, Director of Training at the Ministry, and Wissam Zaidan, Director of the Search and Rescue Program, emphasized that many members of the team previously served with the White Helmets, acquiring advanced expertise in dealing with complex rubble and the extraction of trapped survivors.
Officials said the accumulated experience has enabled Syrian rescue specialists to participate in international emergency response missions.
Responding to Venezuela’s Call for Assistance
The deployment comes in response to two powerful earthquakes that recently struck Venezuela, registering magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, followed by a series of aftershocks. The disaster prompted the United Nations to appeal for urgent international assistance.
The Syrian team is expected to work in close coordination with Qatari and other international rescue units for an initial period of five to ten days, with the possibility of extending the mission depending on operational requirements and developments on the ground.
According to preliminary figures released by Venezuelan authorities, the twin earthquakes have claimed the lives of approximately 1,430 people and left more than 3,200 others injured.
Iman Alzuheiri/A
