VALENCIA, VENEZUELA (VINnews)- An Israeli delegation dispatched to Venezuela following powerful earthquakes is assisting with structural evaluations of damaged buildings rather than search-and-rescue efforts, the head of the mission said.

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“Unlike past missions, we were asked to help rehabilitate the country. At the request of the Venezuelan government, of course,” Home Front Command Chief of Staff Brig. Gen. Elad Edri told reporters.

The roughly 30-member team consists primarily of Home Front Command engineers specializing in structural assessments. Edri described the specialized discipline as one that allows experts to determine whether a building can be rehabilitated and deemed safe for use, or if it must be demolished — a critical step in the recovery phase.

An estimated 1,300 buildings require assessment, with work beginning Thursday in coordination with Venezuelan authorities. The Israeli team is not expected to evaluate every structure.

“Our teams of engineers will begin mapping the areas they requested,” Edri said. “We were sent to classify buildings and say, okay, this one, destroy it, this one you can renovate, this one you can live in, this one you can’t live in.”

The experts are also advising local officials on planning the demolition of unsafe structures and debris removal.

The delegation includes representatives from Israel’s Foreign Ministry. The civilian component is led by Ambassador Yoed Magen, who grew up in Venezuela.

Israel and Venezuela have had no official diplomatic relations since 2009, yet Edri reported no hostility from officials or residents.

“We are here walking around in IDF uniforms with the state’s symbols with great pride. There is no concern for our safety,” he said.

Upon landing in Valencia on Wednesday, the team was greeted by members of Venezuela’s Jewish community, ambassadors and local officials — a reception that left the Israelis “shocked” but positively so, Edri added.

The delegation is scheduled to return to Israel on Sunday but could stay longer if requested.

This mission highlights Israel’s ongoing humanitarian outreach even in nations with strained or severed ties, leveraging IDF expertise in disaster recovery and rehabilitation.