In a remarkable display of cross-border solidarity following a devastating seismic disaster, Venezuela has bestowed its most prestigious humanitarian honor, the First Class Order of Hero of Venezuela, upon the Dominican Republic. The award recognizes the Caribbean nation’s swift and comprehensive emergency response to the destructive earthquakes that hit Venezuela on June 24.
The formal recognition of the Dominican Republic’s lifesaving assistance came in an official correspondence from Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez to Dominican President Luis Abinader. In her letter, Rodríguez extended sincere gratitude to the Dominican government for its prompt and generous support, emphasizing that the rapid deployment of relief resources underscored the deep-rooted friendship, collaborative partnership and shared solidarity that bind the two nations.
The honor was publicly announced during a formal ceremony held at the Dominican Republic’s National Palace. On the same occasion, President Abinader presented the Ministry of Defense’s Medal of Merit, Green Distinction for the Value of Solidarity, to every member of the Dominican rescue contingent that took part in the relief mission, dubbed Operation Quisqueya Solidaria 2026.
Addressing the gathering, Abinader lauded the rescue team members for their exceptional professionalism, unyielding courage and unwavering commitment to their humanitarian mission. He hailed the group as “Dominican heroes,” noting that they represented the nation with great honor as they conducted search-and-rescue operations, provided critical aid to affected earthquake victims, and lent critical support to local Venezuelan authorities operating in the hard-hit disaster zone.
The Dominican relief contingent was a coordinated interagency team, drawing skilled personnel from the country’s Armed Forces, the national Emergency Operations Center (known locally as COE), the Civil Defense agency, and CEMED, the Ministry of Defense’s elite Specialized Emergency and Disaster Mitigation Corps that specializes in complex search-and-rescue deployments.
A statement from the Dominican government highlighted that Operation Quisqueya Solidaria 2026 served as a tangible demonstration of the country’s long-standing commitment to global humanitarian cooperation. The mission showcased the nation’s ability to rapidly deploy trained personnel, specialized rescue equipment, and comprehensive logistical support to neighboring countries facing crisis, the statement added.
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