A 7.8 magnitude earthquake followed by aftershocks hit southern Turkey and Syria on Monday, February 6, 2023, killing more than 5,000 people and injuring thousands, according to a still provisional report. Indeed, according to the latest official report, more than 5,000 people died in the disaster, including 3,549 in Turkey, according to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and 1,622 in Syria, according to the government and the rescuers. In Turkey alone, the authorities have counted nearly 5,000 collapsed buildings.
It is in this context of extreme urgency that several countries have sent teams of rescuers to come to the aid of local teams. Algeria which, as always, demonstrates unfailing solidarity. Indeed, a few hours after the first earthquake, the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, gave the order to send Algerian civil protection teams to Turkey and Syria, which were very quickly dispatched to the scene. disasters.
Read also: Turkey and Syria earthquake: provisional toll exceeds 5,000 dead
What is the first assessment of Algerian civil protection in Turkey?
According to press releases from the General Directorate of Civil Protection (DGPC), Algerian rescue teams have started their work to recover people trapped under the rubble following the earthquake that struck southern Turkey on Monday. at dawn.
According to a report revealed by Civil Protection, during the evening of today, Tuesday, February 7, the Algerian team was able to rescue an infant living under the rubble in Adiyaman, Turkey, while the rescue operation of the mother continues in the spotlight.
The team also managed to recover the bodies of two deceased people (a man and a woman), while state television reported that the Algerian rescue team was able to extract a girl alive from the rubble.
Regarding the second teams that arrived in Syria on Tuesday morning, the civil protection services indicated that a working meeting had been held with the local authorities of the city of Aleppo. But also that the Algerian teams were able to choose a living and command base, and were informed of the number of affected areas, estimated at 52 affected areas.
What is the number of rescuers and civil protection elements sent to Turkey and Syria?
During the day yesterday, Monday February 6, a first group of Civil Protection, composed of 89 people, it is recalled, left, on the orders of the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune for Turkey in order to participate rescue and relief operations for the victims of this earthquake recorded in the south of the country, near Syria.
In addition, a second team made up of 86 emergency workers specializing in natural disasters from civil protection rallied Monday evening from the Boufarik air base in Syria to participate in the relief operations.
Read also: Earthquake in Turkey and Syria: summary of aid sent by Algeria
In addition, the President of the Algerian Red Crescent, Ibtissem Hamlaoui announced that 40 volunteers specialized in first aid have been sent to the disaster areas under this humanitarian operation, indicating that “contacts remain permanent with the Turkish and Syrian Red Crescents to assess the humanitarian needs of the two countries”.
In addition, Algeria sent 210 tons of humanitarian aid, consisting of 115 tons of pharmaceutical and food products and tents to Syria, and 95 tons of various products to Turkey.
