At 1:45 p.m. on August 11, an UNGRD letter said there was no need at that stage to request or activate international urban search and rescue teams. That operational decision did not mean Colombia was rejecting all foreign assistance.
Update history
Updated August 12, 2026 at 3:38 p.m. Colombia time
Retrospective addition of Foreign Ministry statements at 1:22 and 1:44 p.m. and the president’s at 2:00 p.m. They clarify how offers are received and channelled without establishing activation of every USAR team.
A decision limited to the 1:45 p.m. assessment
The document, digitally signed by Javier Pava, says the needs assessment and national capabilities then available did not justify activating international USAR teams. Its wording describes that moment and does not establish a permanent ban.
Pava told EL PAÍS that Colombia had 23 USAR groups. This describes an existing capability; it does not show that all 23 groups were mobilised at the same time.
Several foreign offers had been received
According to statements reported by the newspaper, offers of specialised personnel had come from El Salvador, Peru, Israel and the United States. The initial decision was not to activate those teams through the international mechanism at that stage.
It should be distinguished from support by volunteers already present, including the Mexican Topos, whose administrative formalisation remained necessary according to the published follow-up.
Material and specialised needs remained
Colombia simultaneously requested other forms of assistance: field hospitals and thousands of food, hygiene, shelter, water and sanitation, and kitchen kits. The initial non-activation of USAR teams therefore did not cancel the appeal for international cooperation.
The categories should remain separate: an urban search team, a field hospital and a humanitarian aid shipment address different operational needs.
Twenty-two US specialists welcomed on August 12
The Foreign Ministry had announced at 10:24 a.m. that 22 specialists from Los Angeles and Virginia were expected. The EL PAÍS follow-up published at 1:17 p.m. says Colombian diplomats welcomed them that morning.
The sources examined give no arrival time, landing place or first assignment. No rescue outcome can yet be attributed to them.
Authorities clarify the diplomatic channel
At 1:22 p.m. on August 12, Foreign Minister Omar Bula said no country was excluded and offers would be handled without ideological or political consideration. At 1:44 p.m., the Foreign Ministry added that it was contacting each party offering aid.
At 2:00 p.m., President Abelardo de la Espriella said the Foreign Ministry and UNGRD were channeling international assistance. These statements do not establish that every proposed USAR team was activated and do not rewrite the August 11 operational decision at 1:45 p.m.
Sources and transparency
- EL PAÍS — décision sur les équipes USAR internationales
- EL PAÍS — suivi publié le 12 août à 13 h 17 COT
- Cancillería de Colombia — annonce des 22 spécialistes américains
- Associated Press — aide américaine annoncée
- Cancillería — offres traitées sans considération idéologique à 13 h 22 min 34 s COT
- Cancillería — prise de contact avec chaque pays à 13 h 44 min 15 s COT
- Président Abelardo de la Espriella — aide internationale à 14 h 00 min 21 s COT