The European Union (EU) has already mobilized 25 search and rescue teams, involving nearly 1,200 rescue workers from 21 countries, including Portugal, to assist Turkish authorities in rescue operations continuing after Monday’s earthquake.
In view of the support provided to Turkey after Ankara requested activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management spokesperson Balasz Ujvari indicated that 19 Members of States (Germany, Austria , Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Estonia, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and Romania), plus Albania and Montenegro, provided a total of 25 rescue teams, 11 of which are already on the ground, including 79 sniffer dogs.
In addition, he continued, two medical teams were sent to provide emergency health care to the affected people, with the EU Emergency Response Coordination Center also bringing together an EU civil protection team made up of experts from 11 member states. “were immediately deployed to Turkey to support operations”.
With regard to Syria, also particularly affected by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake and resulting aftershocks that shook the region on Monday, “the EU is in contact with its humanitarian partners on the ground and is financing humanitarian organizations carrying out search and rescue operations, while providing water and health support and distributing blankets and hygiene products in the affected areas”noted the Commission.
The spokesperson added that they are also being evaluated “the level of damage and needs in Syria after yesterday’s earthquake [segunda-feira]to edit the answer”with the EU “consider all viable options for deploying additional resources in Syria to support affected populations”.
Portugal announced this Tuesday that a team of 53 members of civil protection, the GNR and the emergency medical department will depart for Turkey on Wednesday to support search and rescue efforts following Monday’s earthquake, which has already killed more than 5,000 people. has cost.
“In the coming hours, a team of 53 members of the National Civil Protection Emergency Authority, consisting of members of the UEPS (Emergency Protection and Help Unit) of the Republican National Guard and also members of the emergency medical service, will be visiting our country to participate. participate in European efforts of a humanitarian nature for civil protection and, in particular in the case of Portuguese assistance, in the context of search and rescue”said Interior Minister José Luís Carneiro on Tuesday on the sidelines of a meeting with mayors from the Center region in Coimbra.
Speaking to journalists on the same occasion, the president of the National Authority for Emergencies and Civil Protection, Duarte da Costa, explained that it was a joint force with members of the structure of the National Authority for Emergencies and Civil Protection (ANEPC), elements of GNR UEPS, units of the Fire Sappers Regiment and an INEM medical intervention team for the security of the force itself.
“We plan to leave tomorrow [quarta-feira] day. In cooperation with the European Mechanism, the methods necessary to place the force in Turkey have already been found, along with other European efforts and other European forces currently being prepared.he explained.
The forecast is that the mission will last 10 to 15 days, but could be extended depending on what the team finds on the ground and depending on Portuguese foreign policy, the official added.
Duarte da Costa said the exact location where the Portuguese team will play is not yet known, but he explained that details are being worked out with Turkish authorities.
In addition to the 53 elements, Portugal will also send search and rescue equipment, but no heavy equipment.
The preliminary balance of Monday’s earthquakes in Turkey and Syria has risen to more than 5,000 dead as rescue operations are carried out under the rubble of destroyed buildings in both countries.
The quakes, the largest at 7.8 on the Richter scale, toppled thousands of buildings in southern Turkey and northern Syria.
Rescue teams remain in the affected places and the work is complicated by the low temperatures in the region.
According to an estimate this Tuesday by the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of people affected by the earthquakes that hit southeastern Turkey and northern Syria could reach 23 million.
Source: DN
