They did not leave Turkey alone… EU announced: The biggest search and rescue operation ever

The eyes and ears of the world have been on the news from Turkey for days…

Many countries have taken action to bandage the wounds together. Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu announced that teams from 56 countries are working in Turkey and that 19 more countries will start their duties within 24 hours.

Çavuşoğlu said, ‘We have seen strong solidarity from all over the world’ and that Turkey received offers of assistance from 95 countries and 16 international organizations.

Taiwan President and Vice President decided to donate their monthly salaries to earthquake victims in Turkey.

Taiwan Had Allocated $ 2 million in aid for the earthquake that occurred in Turkey and sent two rescue teams to participate in search and rescue efforts.

LARGEST SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATION EVER

It has been stated that the European Union has carried out the largest ever search and rescue operation in Turkey and the northwest of Syria through the Civil Protection Mechanism. It was emphasized that 1.485 rescuers from 20 European Union countries, mostly in Turkey, were on the field with 100 search and rescue dogs.

In the statement made by the EU Commission yesterday, it was underlined that the Civil Protection Mechanism was activated after the two major earthquakes on 6 February and that the EU’s largest search and rescue operation was carried out through this mechanism. It was also stated that the EU is preparing for humanitarian aid ‘in addition’ and it was noted that in addition to the crew and humanitarian aid sent so far, Germany, Lithuania and Slovenia will provide blankets, tents and heaters. 

The Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid institution affiliated to the EU Commission shared the map of EU aid efforts in the regions in Turkey and noted that the EU teams have coordination centers in Kahramanmaraş, Adıyaman, Malatya, Gaziantep, Adana and Hatay. It was emphasized that as of yesterday, 1.485 rescuers from 20 European Union countries, mostly in Turkey, were on the field with 100 search and rescue dogs.

HELP FROM EUROPEAN TURKS

More than 70 tons of emergency aid materials were sent to earthquake victims from Turks living in Frankfurt in order to support earthquake victims in Turkey.

While the Turks living in Czechia showed great interest in the aid campaign organized by the Turkish Embassy in Prague due to the earthquake , tons of aid materials were collected.

AZERBAIJAN ALLOCATED 2 THOUSAND BEDS

It was announced that 2,000 beds were reserved for earthquake victims in Turkey in hospitals in Azerbaijan . It was reported that Azerbaijan Health Minister Teymur Musayev had a telephone conversation with Health Minister Fahrettin Koca.

In his phone call, Musayev stated that the hospitals in the capital Baku and other cities and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic were prepared for the treatment of earthquake victims by the instruction of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

The people of Azerbaijan sent 255 thousand US dollars of aid for the earthquake victims in Turkey only through the postal organization of the Azerbaijani state “Azerpost” within two days.

According to the statement made by the Greek Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, with the instruction of Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis, 7 thousand 500 blankets, 1 500 beds and 500 tents that can be used as mobile clinics for families to stay will be allocated to Turkey to help earthquake victims and meet their needs. 

In the statement, it was reminded that Greece stood by the earthquake victims with its 2 search and rescue teams that took part in the works in neighboring Turkey from the very first moment. France announced that it will establish a field hospital in Turkey after the earthquakes, the epicenter of which was Kahramanmaraş.

Russian Emergency Situations Minister Aleksandr Kurenkov ordered that another team be sent to participate in search and rescue efforts after the earthquakes in Turkey.

The humanitarian aid team called ‘Olive Branches’, which set out from  Israel, came to Turkey. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced that it will send $100 million in aid to Syria and Turkey, as well as relief supplies and search and rescue teams.

China said that the  first rescue teams have started working in Turkey and that $5.9 million in emergency aid will be given to the country.

Central American country El Salvador sent more than 100 search and rescue personnel and rescue dogs to Turkey after the earthquakes, the epicenter of which was Kahramanmaraş.

POLAND TEAM SAVE 14 LIVES

Search and rescue team from Poland  rescued 14 people from the rubble. The commander of the Polish team, Andrzej Bartkowiak, said that they carried out one of the most difficult search-and-rescue efforts to date, but they will fight until the end to get those trapped under the rubble alive.

Italy ‘s Embassy in Ankara, in its message sharing the aid provided to the country due to earthquakes, gave place to the expressions that Turkey used when sending Covid-19 aid to Italy, “There are many hopes behind the despair, there are many suns behind the darkness”.

The European Union (EU) Commission announced that a Donors Conference will be held in Brussels, the capital of Belgium, in March to collect donations from the international community after the earthquakes in Turkey.

US AIRCRAFT SHIP STARTED

Spokesman of the US Department of Defense (Pentagon), Brigadier General Patrick Ryder, stated that the USS George HW Bush aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean was moving towards Turkey in order to meet Turkey’s possible additional support requests after the earthquake disaster.

The first search and rescue team sent from Ukraine to the earthquake zone reached Gaziantep yesterday and started working. Bangladesh declared national mourning for earthquake in Turkey

The United Nations announced that a total of 13 teams were sent, and 39 teams were on their way. The Lebanese rescue team pulled a pregnant woman out of the damaged building in the earthquake zone in Turkey.

Iraqi Red Crescent announced that 150 health personnel and ambulances were sent to Turkey to heal the wounds after the earthquake in Turkey.

Mexico is sending some of its famous search and rescue dogs to Turkey to help evacuate the wreckage.

RESCUE TEAM FROM HONG KONG

China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region authorities have assigned a rescue team of 59 people to Turkey to participate in the search and rescue operations carried out in the earthquake zone. A ceremony was held at Hong Kong International Airport before the plane took off. 

MOBILIZATION STARTED BY AZERBAIJAN CONTINUES

Aid mobilization for earthquake victims in Turkey continues in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan sent the aid they collected to Turkey with vehicles to support those affected by the earthquakes in Turkey.

In the statement of the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan, it was reported that the works started to help earthquake victims in Turkey with the instruction of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev are continuing.

With the organization of the Ministry of Defense, aid collection points were established in the relevant military units for the soldiers of the Azerbaijani army and their families to help the earthquake victims in the sister country. The clothes and food products brought voluntarily by the soldiers and their families were collected at the designated points and sent to Turkey by trucks.

HELP FROM IRAQ WITH AIR BRIDGE

In the statement made by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Sudani’s Press Office, it was stated that the air bridge, which was created to confirm the solidarity of the Iraqi people and government with the Syrian and Turkish peoples, and to contribute to alleviating the effects of the disaster, continues. It was stated that relief materials, emergency needs and civil defense teams were sent to both countries affected by the earthquake over the air bridge.

NEW TEAMS FROM POLAND, UZBEKISTAN AND GREECE

While the Polish Ministry of Defense announced that the Polish medical team arrived in Turkey today with the field hospital, Greek Minister of Climate and Civil Protection Christos Stylianides announced that in addition to the first team sent yesterday evening, the second team, including doctors, was sent. On the other hand, Uzbekistan sent additional humanitarian aid and rescue teams and stated that a mobile hospital has started to be established in Gaziantep.

In today’s statement about the additional teams, the Polish Ministry of Defense said, “Military medics from Poland are in Turkey. They will start their work later today and help earthquake victims. The medical equipment necessary to establish a field hospital was transferred to Turkey by military planes.

Greek Minister of Climate and Civil Protection Christos Stylianides said in a statement yesterday evening that an additional team, including a doctor and an expert on supporting the columns in the ruins of collapsed buildings, was sent to Turkey. Minister Stylianides shared the message “Greece stands by Turkey’s earthquake victims”.

UZBEKISTAN IS ESTABLISHING 9 UNIT FIELD HOSPITAL

It was stated that upon the instruction of the President of Uzbekistan, Şevket Mirziyoyev, additional aid and teams from Uzbekistan reached Gaziantep and a 9-unit field hospital, where 50 health workers will work, has begun to be established. “To assist victims, it is planned to deploy a field hospital complex consisting of nine separate units on an area of ​​one hectare, which will serve 50 employees of the Ministry of Defense medical detachment,” the statement said. 

SAHRA HOSPITAL FROM ITALY

Aid is pouring in to Turkey after the 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes that occurred in Kahramanmaraş on February 6 and also hit the surrounding provinces. 

41 volunteers, 1 field hospital and a civil defense team of 20 vehicles were sent to Turkey via Brindisi by the Italian Civil Protection Department.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Head Of The World Health Organization  , said emergency medical teams were activated to provide basic health care to people affected by the earthquake.

A search and rescue team of 18 people from Japan also arrived in Turkey. Iran sent 6 teams to the region.

In a statement on his social media account, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said, “We are saddened by the news of the devastating Earthquake that  caused the loss of many lives in Turkey and Syria . We express our condolences to the families of the victims and wish the injured a speedy recovery. Armenia is ready to provide assistance.“

South Korean  President Yoon Suk-yeol has ordered Turkey to send rescue workers and emergency medical supplies.

The team of 59 people, who set out from Bulgaria with 19 rescue vehicles, arrived in Turkey. Spain to establish health facilities in earthquake-affected areas