Mexico says Colombia rejected its earthquake rescue team

Aid Dispute Overshadows Earthquake Response

A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck Colombia on Monday, killing at least 273 people, injuring more than 3,800, and leaving 377 missing, according to government figures released Thursday. As rescue efforts continued, a dispute emerged between Mexico and Colombia over the deployment of a Mexican military rescue team.

Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum said Thursday that Colombia was refusing to allow the team into the country. She said she had initially been told the team had travelled to Colombia, but later learned at a security cabinet meeting that it had not. "Colombia requested a certification. They are certified, but now they are asking for another certification," Sheinbaum told reporters, according to Al Jazeera.

Colombia's Foreign Minister Omar Bula denied excluding any country. "We have not excluded any country whatsoever in terms of the offers they have made to us," Bula said, as reported by Al Jazeera. "We work with countries without any ideological or political considerations."

Colombia's Certification Requirements

David Santiago Tamayo, director of Colombia's National Unit for Disaster Risk Management, said Wednesday that the government was formalising support from rescue teams in the United States, El Salvador, Ecuador, and Israel. Tamayo said foreign teams must be "internationally certified and recognised," and Colombia would only accept those recognised by INSARAG, the UN's International Search and Rescue Advisory Group.

Sheinbaum challenged that explanation, noting the Mexican team was already certified and had previously deployed to 98 countries. Mexico continued sending other aid, including food and medical supplies. Bula said Wednesday that Colombia had accepted 58.5 tonnes of aid from Mexico and that a flight carrying humanitarian assistance was arriving that day.

Political Context and Criticism

The dispute unfolded against a backdrop of political change. President Abelardo de la Espriella, a conservative, took office just days before the earthquake. He has faced accusations of blocking rescue teams from countries with left-wing leaders, though his administration denies this. In an interview with latinamericareports.com, former President Gustavo Petro criticised the government's approach, saying "applying an ideological filter to international aid is a mistake" and that international aid "belongs to humanity for saving lives." Petro also took issue with Israeli rescuers, noting de la Espriella formally recognised Israel's claim over the Golan Heights, making Colombia the second UN member state to do so.

International Aid Arrives

Dozens of nations have offered support. The first international aid arrived August 12 aboard a Mexican government aircraft delivering 19 tons of aid to Pereira, one of the most affected cities. The independent Mexican rescue team Topos Azteca arrived from Venezuela and faced certification obstacles, including requests for accident insurance coverage. Its leader, Héctor 'El Chino' Méndez, publicly complained, saying, "They told me, 'Hey, we need to see the accident insurance coverage for your team,' and I told them: you've got to be kidding me, we're volunteers. Let us work." The team had the support of Cali's mayor, Alejandro Eder.

Meanwhile, other international teams arrived or were mobilised. A Los Angeles County Fire Department team arrived Thursday for search operations and structural assessments, and a Fairfax County, Virginia team was mobilised at the request of the Colombian government, as reported by Al Jazeera. Two planes sent by Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele arrived in Cali with 100 tons of food, hygiene kits, and medical supplies. A team of 22 US rescuers arrived, and the United States announced a US$26.5 million budget allocation for emergency shelters, food supplies, and damage assessment.

Peru and Brazil offered assistance, with Brazil's Belo Horizonte Animal Rescue Group arriving in Cali. India sent a 20-ton aircraft with medicines, medical equipment, temporary shelters, hygiene products, and other supplies; India's Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar said India stands in solidarity with the people of Colombia. South Korea donated US$1 million and KOICA donated USD 20,000, with Ambassador Choi Hyun-koog saying Korea is providing aid to the areas most in need and stands with Colombia. The European Commission provided €2.1 million in life-saving assistance, and the German Red Cross reallocated €100,000 from an EU-funded project for 2,500 families in Chocó and Valle del Cauca.

Financial Contributions and Government Plans

De la Espriella announced on X that Colombia will receive a $10 million donation from the United Arab Emirates. On Wednesday, he announced plans to declare an economic emergency and establish a reconstruction fund. The World Bank disbursed US$200 million for Colombia's emergency response and announced US$200,000 in non-reimbursable cooperation for damage assessment. The IDB contributed US$500,000 in non-reimbursable technical cooperation, including US$350,000 for the Colombian Red Cross. CAF donated US$500,000 for immediate needs following the earthquake. Bula listed countries offering aid including the Czech Republic, Germany, Luxembourg, Qatar, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Japan, UAE, Switzerland, Israel, India, Chile, and the European Union.