At least 13 countries in the European Union (EU) have so far offered search and rescue teams to Turkeyin response to the activation by the Turkish Government of the European civil protection mechanism after the strong earthquake that has shaken the country this past dawn. As confirmed by the Community Executive, so far there are 10 countries that have already mobilized teams –Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland and Romania– while three other countries –Italy, Spain and Slovakia– have offered to send experts to the ground and are waiting to receive a response from Ankara.
“After the earthquake in Turkey this morning, we have activated the EU’s civil protection mechanism. The teams from the Netherlands and Romania are already on their way,” the commissioner responsible for crisis management announced first thing in the morning. Janez Lenarcic. “Our thoughts are with the people of Turkey and Syria. The EU is ready to help,” said the head of European diplomacy, on Twitter. Joseph Borrell. Brussels has also confirmed the activation of the Copernicus satellite system to provide emergency mapping services after the powerful earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale, one of the strongest recorded on the gaziantep region in more than 100 years and which has also affected the northwest of neighboring Syria.
In addition to sending equipment to Turkey, the European Comission has also opened the door to help those affected in Syria although at the moment there is no formal request. Borrell has described as “devastating” an earthquake that has cost the lives of more than a thousand people, according to initial estimates, and has injured many others. “We are analyzing or receiving information about the number of victims. The situation is extremely frightening. Furthermore, it is in an area where we have some Spanish troops deployed. We are extremely concerned about what happened, so all our sympathy with Turkey,” he said. said the Secretary of State for European Affairs, Pascual Ignacio Navarro, upon his arrival at the General Affairs Council in Brussels.
More than 40 countries offer help
Together with the EU, more than 40 countries have offered their support to Ankara, as detailed by the president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The World Health Organization (WHO) has activated its emergency services to provide those affected with healthcare and some NGOs such as Doctors without borders o Save The Children They are preparing to help cope with the natural catastrophe.
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The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, has conveyed its “deep condolences” to Erdogan for the “great loss of life and massive destruction caused by the powerful earthquake,” according to a statement published by the Kremlin through its website. Putin added that Russia “is prepared to give all necessary help” to the Turkish and Syrian authorities. In the same terms it has been stated Volodímir Zelenski. On her Twitter account, she has published that Ukraine is “prepared to give the necessary help to overcome the consequences of this disaster.” and the defense minister IsraelYoav Gallant, has ordered the Army “to prepare to give emergency aid.”
India and Taiwan have also joined the wave of humanitarian support for Turkey and Syria. The Indian government has announced that two teams from the Indian National Disaster Response Force are ready to fly to the disaster area for search and rescue operations and Taiwan’s fire department has said it has a team of 130, along with with five search dogs and 13 tons of help, ready to go to Turkey.