Turkey and Syria have seen a helping hand as the global search and rescue effort is providing rescuing missions after earthquake struck the two countries.
As the Associated Press (AP) reports, medical personnel, soldiers, and handlers with trained search dogs sent from around the world are arriving in Turkey and Syria respectively to help rescue survivors of Monday’s earthquake.
The European Union (EU) has mobilized search and rescue teams to help Turkey, while the bloc’s Copernicus Satellite system has been activated to provide Emergency Mapping services.
At least 19 member countries have offered assistance. The European Commission is also helping neighboring Syria by funding Humanitarian Organizations supervising search and rescue operations.
The United States (US) is coordinating immediate assistance to Turkey, including teams to support search and rescue efforts.
In California, nearly 100 Los Angeles County firefighters and structural engineers, along with six specially trained dogs, were being sent to Turkey.
War-ravaged Syria called for the United Nations and its members to help with rescue efforts, health services, shelter, and food aid. Both government-held territory and the last opposition-held enclave were damaged by the earthquake.
The International Committee of the Red Cross has sent enough surgical material to treat 100 people at one of the public hospitals in the Syrian city of Aleppo. More medical equipment is on its way to Aleppo, Latakia, and Tartous. The Red Cross also is donating canned food, blankets, mattresses, and other essential items for distribution in the many shelters being set up in affected areas.
Russian rescue teams from the Emergencies Ministry were sent to Syria, where the Russian military deployed in that country already has sent 10 units comprising 300 people to help clear debris and search for survivors.
The Israeli army is sending a search and rescue team of 150 engineers, medical personnel, and other aid workers to render lifesaving aid in Turkey. The two countries are mending ties after years of tensions. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he has also approved a request for humanitarian aid for Syria. Israel and Syria do not have diplomatic relations.
A team of 82 rescuers sent by the Chinese government has arrived in Adana, Turkey. They include specialists in search and rescue as well as medical treatment, and they brought in 21 tons of rescue equipment and supplies. China’s CCTV also said a non-governmental rescue and search organization from Zhejiang province also sent an advanced team to Turkey.
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki said the Palestinian Authority will dispatch two humanitarian missions to assist in Syria and Turkey. The aid missions will include civil defense and medical teams.
Neighbor and historic rival Greece is sending Turkey a team of 21 rescuers, two rescue dogs, and a special rescue vehicle, together with a structural engineer, five doctors, and seismic planning experts in a military transport plane.
The Lebanese army says it will send a team of 15 members of the military’s engineering regiment to neighboring Syria to help in rescue operations in government-held parts of the country. Tuesday’s announcement came a day after the army sent 20 members of the same regiment to Turkey to help rescuers there who are racing to find survivors.
One of Libya’s rival governments said it will dispatch a 55-member team to Turkey to help in rescue efforts. The government of Prime Minister Abdel Hamid Dbeibah said the team would include rescuers, medical members along with four dogs.
Spanish medical workers will set up a field hospital in Turkey to treat the wounded. Spain has mobilized troops and drones from the country’s Military Emergency Unit to Malatya airport, where the Turkish authorities have installed an international aid center. Spain will also contribute to aid efforts through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Spain will also contribute to rescue efforts in Syria through NGOs operating there.
Germany’s THW civil protection agency is sending a 50-member rescue team to Turkey on Tuesday. A team from the group International Search and Rescue Germany, with 42 experts and seven dogs, has arrived in Turkey and is heading to Kirikhan, near the Syrian border. Germany also has been readying deliveries of emergency generators, tents, blankets, and water treatment equipment.
A South Korean disaster relief team of 110 rescue workers and medical supplies have arrived at Gaziantep airport in Turkey. The Foreign Ministry says the team includes 60 civilian rescuers and 50 military personnel.
Australia’s government will be sending up to 72 personnel capable of finding and removing trapped people and delivering medical aid.
Pakistan has sent one flight of relief supplies and another carrying a 50-member search and rescue team. The government says daily aid flights to Syria and Turkey will start on Wednesday, February 8 and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif set up a relief fund, urging people to donate generously. The federal cabinet is donating a month’s salary and all government employees are donating a day’s salary toward it.
Britain is sending 76 search-and-rescue specialists with equipment and dogs, as well as an emergency medical team, to Turkey. The U.K. also says it’s in contact with the U.N. about getting for support victims in Syria.
India is sending 100 searches and rescue personnel from its Natural Disaster Response Force to Turkey, as well as specially trained dog squads and equipment for relief efforts. Medical teams with trained doctors, paramedics, and essential medicines are also ready, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.
Taiwan is sending 130 rescue squad members, five search dogs, and 13 tons of equipment to Turkey. Interior Minister Lin Yu-chang said the first group left for Turkey late Monday and another was sent Tuesday. Taiwan earlier said it would donate $200,000 to Turkey.
Swiss rescue dog service REDOG is sending 22 rescuers with 14 dogs to Turkey. The government said it would also send 80 search and rescue specialists to the country, including army disaster experts.
The Czech Republic is sending Turkey a team of 68 rescuers, including firefighters, doctors, structural engineers, and also experts with sniffer dogs.
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Japan has sent two teams of rescuers to Turkey. The first group left Monday and the second, with more than 50 members and five dogs, left Tuesday evening.
Austria has offered to send 84 soldiers from a military disaster relief unit to Turkey.
Poland is sending Turkey 76 firefighters and eight trained dogs, with equipment. Romania is sending specialized personnel and material on two military aircraft.
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Croatia is sending 40 personnel and 10 dogs, rescue equipment, and vans to Turkey. Serbia is sending 21 rescuers and three liaison officers for the mission.
Montenegro is sending at least 24 firefighters; Moldova’s president says 55 rescue workers. France is dispatching rescue teams.
Jordan is sending emergency aid to Syria and Turkey on the orders of King Abdullah II.
Mexico’s foreign affairs secretary said the country will send equipment and rescue specialists to Turkey. Egypt has pledged urgent humanitarian aid.
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Italy’s Civil Protection Agency has offered assistance to Turkey. A firefighting team was preparing to leave from Pisa, and the Italian military says transport flights will carry equipment as well as health and other personnel.
New Zealand is providing $632,000 to the Turkish Red Crescent and $316,000 to the Syrian Arab Red Crescent to deliver items such as food, tents, and blankets, as well as provide medical assistance and psychological support.
China’s Red Cross Society is providing the Turkish Red Crescent and the Syrian Red Crescent with $200,000 each in humanitarian assistance.
Albania and Kosovo have sent emergency teams to Turkey to assist in search and rescue. Albania’s 53-member team consists of firefighters and army and health personnel. Algeria sends firefighters, doctors, and dog teams to Turkey.
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Finland will send 1 million euros in humanitarian assistance to Turkey and Syria through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The support will be used to provide food, shelter, medical supplies, and psychosocial support to people who lost their homes.
Greece’s Orthodox Church has announced a charity drive and prayer services in support of victims.
