Structural engineers, soldiers, paramedics and dog handlers with trained search dogs are traveling to Turkey and Syria to help locate and rescue survivors of Monday’s earthquake. Here is an overview of the help provided:
– The European Union 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 offered their assistance. The European Commission is also helping neighboring Syria by funding humanitarian organizations overseeing search and rescue operations.
— The United States 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 sent to Turkey.
– Russian rescue teams from the Emergencies Ministry have been sent to Syria, where the Russian military deployed there has already sent 10 units comprising 300 people to help clean up debris and search for survivors. The Russian army has set up distribution points for humanitarian aid. Russia also offered to help Turkey, which was accepted.
— War-torn Syria has asked the United Nations and its members to help with rescue efforts, health services, shelter and food aid. Government-controlled territory and the last opposition-controlled enclave were damaged by the earthquake.
— The International Committee of the Red Cross has sent enough surgical equipment to treat 100 people in one of the public hospitals in the Syrian city of Aleppo. Other medical equipment is on its way to Aleppo, Latakia and Tartous. The Red Cross is also donating tinned food, blankets, mattresses and other essential items to distribute in the many shelters being set up in the affected areas.
— The Israeli army is sending a search and rescue team of 150 engineers, medical personnel and other aid workers to bring life-saving aid to Turkey. The two countries are mending their relations after years of tension. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he also approved a request for humanitarian aid for Syria. Israel and Syria do not have diplomatic relations.
— Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki said that the Palestinian Authority will send two humanitarian missions to help Syria and Turkey. Assistance missions will include civil defense teams and medical teams.
Neighbor and historic rival Greece is sending a team of 21 rescuers, two rescue dogs and a special rescue vehicle, along with a structural engineer, five doctors and seismic planning experts to Turkey in a military transport plane. .
— The Lebanese army said it would send a team of 15 members of the military engineer regiment to neighboring Syria to help with rescue operations in government-controlled areas of the country. Tuesday’s announcement came a day after the military sent 20 members of the same regiment to Turkey to help rescuers there who are rushing to find survivors.
— One of Libya’s rival governments said it would send a 55-member team to Turkey to help with rescue efforts. Prime Minister Abdel Hamid Dbeibah’s government said the team would include rescuers, medical staff and four dogs.
— Spanish medical workers will set up a field hospital in Turkey to treat the injured. Spain has mobilized troops and drones from the country’s military emergency unit to Malatya airport, where Turkish authorities have set up 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 the NGOs operating there.
– Germany’s THW civil protection agency is sending a 50-member rescue team to Turkey on Tuesday. A team from the International Search and Rescue Germany group, made up of 42 experts and seven dogs, has arrived in Turkey and is heading for Kirikhan, near the Syrian border. Germany has also prepared deliveries of emergency generators, tents, blankets and water treatment equipment.
– South Korea will send a search and rescue team of 60 people and 50 soldiers and send medical supplies to Turkey. The government also says it is providing an initial humanitarian aid of $5 million, and the Gyeonggi provincial government plans to provide $1 million in humanitarian aid.
— Pakistan sent a flight of relief supplies and another carrying a 50-member search and rescue team. The government said daily aid flights to Syria and Turkey would begin on Wednesday, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif set up a relief fund, urging people to donate generously. The federal cabinet pays one month’s salary and all government employees pay him a day’s salary.
– Britain is sending 76 search and rescue specialists with equipment and dogs, plus an emergency medical team, to Turkey. The UK also says it is in contact with the UN to get help for the victims in Syria.
– India is sending 100 search and rescue personnel from its Natural Disaster Response Force to Turkey, along with specially trained dog teams and equipment for relief efforts. Medical teams consisting of trained doctors, paramedics and essential drugs are also ready, the foreign ministry said in a statement.
– Taiwan sends 130 rescue team members, five search dogs and 13 tons of equipment to Turkey. Interior Minister Lin Yu-chang said the first group left for Turkey on Monday evening and another was sent on Tuesday. Taiwan announced earlier that it would donate $200,000 to Turkey.
— The Swiss rescue dog service REDOG sends 22 rescuers with 14 dogs to Turkey. The government has announced that it will also send 80 search and rescue specialists to the country, including disaster experts from the army.
— The Czech Republic is sending a team of 68 rescuers to Turkey, including firefighters, doctors, structural engineers and also experts with sniffer dogs.
— Japan is sending a group of about 75 rescue workers to Turkey.
— Austria has offered to send 84 troops from a military disaster relief unit to Turkey.
— Poland is sending 76 firefighters and eight trained dogs, with equipment, to Turkey.
— Romania sends specialized personnel and equipment to Turkey on two military planes.
— Croatia is sending 40 people and 10 dogs, rescue equipment and vans to Turkey.
— Serbia sends 21 rescuers and three liaison officers to Turkey.
— Montenegro sends at least 24 firefighters to Turkey.
— The Moldovan president said that 55 rescue workers had been sent to Turkey.
— France is sending relief teams to Turkey.
— Jordan sends emergency aid to Syria and Turkey on the orders of King Abdullah II.
– Mexico’s foreign secretary said the country will send rescue equipment and specialists to Turkey.
— Egypt promised emergency humanitarian aid to Turkey.
— The Italian Civil Protection Agency has offered assistance to Turkey. A firefighting team was preparing from Pisa, and the Italian military said the transport flights would carry equipment as well as medical 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 medical assistance and psychological support .
— The Chinese Red Cross provides the Turkish Red Crescent and the Syrian Red Crescent with humanitarian aid of $200,000 each.
— Albania and Kosovo sent emergency teams to Turkey to help with search and rescue. The 53-member Albanian team consists of firefighters, army and health personnel.
— Finland will send €1 million in humanitarian aid 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 have lost their homes.
— The Greek Orthodox Church announced a charity campaign and prayer services for the victims.
