Mexico says Colombia rejected its earthquake rescue team

Colombia denies politics played a role after Mexico said its military rescuers were refused entry.Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum has said Colombia is refusing to allow a team of Mexican rescue experts into the country to help search for survivors of Monday’s devastating earthquake, as questions grow over how the new government is handling offers of international assistance.Sheinbaum said on Thursday that she had initially been told the military rescue team had travelled to Colombia, but was informed at a security cabinet meeting the following day that this was not the case.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Part of children’s hospital collapses in Colombia earthquakelist 2 of 4Photos: Hope fades in Colombia as teams dig for earthquake survivorslist 3 of 4Colombia earthquake response tests new far-right governmentlist 4 of 4Colombia earthquake: Hospitals adapt to save lives amid widespread damageend of list“Colombia requested a certification. They are certified, but now they are asking for another certification,” Sheinbaum told reporters.Mexico has continued sending other help, including food and medical supplies.Colombia’s Foreign Minister Omar Bula said on Wednesday that the country had accepted 58.5 tonnes of aid from Mexico and that a flight carrying humanitarian assistance was arriving that day.Colombia denies politics behind decision on foreign rescuersScheinbaum’s comments come as President Abelardo de la Espriella, a conservative who took office just days before the earthquake, is facing accusations that he has blocked rescue teams from countries with left-wing leaders. His administration denies the allegation.“We have not excluded any country whatsoever in terms of the offers they have made to us,” Bula said. “We work with countries without any ideological or political considerations.”David Santiago Tamayo, director of Colombia’s National Unit for Disaster Risk Management, said on Wednesday that the government was formalising support from rescue teams in the United States, El Salvador, Ecuador and Israel.