From Jorge Chavez International Airport, the Interior Ministry's head said the contingent comprises firefighters from the USAR Medium Team, who are highly specialized in search and rescue operations in collapsed structures, as well as Kaira—a search-and-rescue dog trained to locate people trapped under debris.
The team will first travel to Bogota, Colombia, where it will join rescue personnel from other countries in the region before departing for Venezuela this Saturday.
Minister Zapata highlighted that the deployment of this humanitarian mission was made possible through the coordinated efforts of the Peruvian Government, Latam Peru, and the NGO Peru Pendiente, which joined forces to provide assistance to the Venezuelan people.
The Cabinet member added that, as part of this humanitarian response, the Peruvian Government will also send 14 metric tons of humanitarian aid to support families affected by the emergency.
Kaira is a four-year-old Belgian Shepherd Malinois with extensive experience in search-and-rescue operations.
"As evidence of Peru's firm commitment to humanitarian assistance and international cooperation in response to natural disasters in the region, the Peruvian Government is deploying 44 firefighters from the USAR Team to Venezuela," Minister Zapata said.
"They are highly trained personnel with more than 20 years of experience in this type of operation," he added.
The 44 volunteer firefighters belong to the USAR Medium Team—a specialized unit trained to locate, extricate, and stabilize people trapped in confined spaces, collapsed structures, and debris caused by natural or technological disasters.
The government official also highlighted the participation of four female firefighters and Kaira—the search-and-rescue dog—in the Peruvian delegation, which will remain in Venezuela for seven days to support emergency response efforts for the population affected by the disaster.
"Peru is proud of each and every one of you. Go with strength, fulfill your mission, and make our country proud. Safe travels, heroes! May God be with you, and may you return home safe and sound at the end of your mission," he expressed as he bid farewell to the firefighters.
(END) NDP/KGR/MVB