The Portuguese search and rescue team rescued a 10-year-old child alive from the rubble on the third day of work in Antakya, the Civil Protection (ANEPC) announced. A story with a happy ending that joins other cases, including that of a two-month-old baby who was rescued after 128 hours, on the day the World Health Organization (WHO) increased the number of people affected by earthquakes to 26 million on Monday, and the death toll passed the threshold of 25 thousand.
On the third day, the Portuguese Joint Operational Force rescued a 10-year-old child alive in the town of Antáquia, Hatay region, Turkey.
#ANEPC #FEPC #RSB #INEM #GNR #humanitarian help #missaoturkey #solidarity #earthquakeinTurkey pic.twitter.com/k6fxigMDDI– National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (@ProteccaoCivil) February 11, 2023
According to the Lusa report, Filipe Rocha, the head of the team’s morning shift consisting of 52 civil defense, GNR and emergency medical services, including six dogs, admitted the work is “frustrating” but he remained hopeful. As did Operation Commander José Guilherme, although he said that given the elapsed time, it would be “a miracle” to find a living person amidst the rubble.
The Portuguese team joined more than 8,000 foreigners traveling to southeastern Turkey and 32,000 Turks battling the weather and cold, but the pain and desperation of the survivors were joined by the first reports of violence. The missions of Austria and Germany suspended searches due to lack of security. Authorities reported that they had arrested 48 people for looting. Also, 12 civil builders were arrested on suspicion of negligence.
As the time frame closes, the priority begins to focus on the survivors, in large numbers without shelter or access to drinking water and with freezing temperatures. According to the UN, at least 870,000 people urgently need a hot meal and 5.3 million people have become homeless in Syria alone. In the country engulfed in civil war, the WHO director arrived in Aleppo with tons of aid and a promise that he could reach the rebel areas.
Source: DN
