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The far-right government of Colombia denied rumors on Wednesday regarding an alleged rejection of aid to attend to the victims of the powerful earthquake due to "ideological considerations."
The emergency caused by Monday's 7.4-magnitude earthquake served as an early test for President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office just six days ago.
The left-wing opposition and some international media outlets claimed that the government was only allowing contributions from governments of its own political alignment, risking human lives. However, the Colombian Foreign Ministry rejected these accusations.
"We are working with countries without any ideological or political consideration," declared Foreign Minister Omar Bula in a press conference.
According to the Foreign Minister, they are accepting aid from the left-wing government of Mexico, which sent a plane with 58.5 tons of food and medicine. They are also accepting aid from El Salvador, the Czech Republic, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, Portugal, Qatar, Israel, India, and Chile.
"We have not excluded any country," he added.
However, in the case of sending rescue teams, Colombia has only accepted the participation of the right-wing governments of the United States, El Salvador, Ecuador, and Israel, explained David Tamayo, director of the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD).
"We will only be accepting support from these countries, which can guarantee us search and rescue groups recognized by the international system," Tamayo indicated.
The earthquake especially affected populations in the Pacific and the coffee-growing region in the west of the country. According to Asocapitales, 241 people have died so far.
A team of Mexican volunteers, who are not part of an official government delegation, called for unity.
"I ask you, I beg you, let's work together and try to get our brothers buried in different spots out," said 80-year-old Héctor Méndez, president of Topos Azteca, who was participating in rescue efforts in Cali, to AFP.
"If we start trying to politicize this, we are in the wrong," he added.
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[Publicidad]