(ANS – Santiago) – In a historic event that combines the vocation of teaching with the noble mission of saving lives, the Salesian educator Hugo Campos Saavedra has been honoured with a well-deserved national tribute. Hugo Campos, who serves as environmental coordinator at the “El Patrocinio de San José” school, was part of an elite team comprising 45 rescue workers from the USAR (Urban Search and Rescue) unit of the Chilean Fire Service. This contingent played an active role in search operations following the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela. The complex humanitarian mission took place primarily in the state of La Guaira and concluded successfully with the rescue of a person trapped under the rubble. The Chilean specialists, demonstrating an exceptionally high level of preparedness and resilience, worked tirelessly for ten days in the town of Catia La Mar. It should be noted that, with this mission, the professor has now taken part in three international operations as a specialist rescuer with the Chilean Fire Service’s USAR team, receiving numerous congratulations for his work. In recognition of this invaluable commitment, Hugo Campos attended a formal ceremony to pay tribute to the professionals who were deployed to Venezuela following the earthquakes. This mission represented one of the largest international humanitarian aid operations organised by Chile in recent times, a fact that clearly highlighted the country’s capacity to respond to complex emergencies. The President of the Republic, José Antonio Kast, led and presided over the tribute to the contingent during a ceremony held in the Montt Varas Hall at La Moneda Palace. The President emphatically highlighted the professionalism, dedication to service and spirit of solidarity shown by the members of the USAR team. The day formally concluded with the presentation of awards to the mission members and an official photograph in the historic Patio de Las Camelias at La Moneda Palace.