Turkey has sent 15 military and three civilian aircraft containing search and rescue (SAR), medical, Red Crescent personnel and humanitarian aid to the quake-hit people of Pakistan.
According to a press release issued here on Wednesday, the humanitarian aid were sent through aircraft, including medicines, medical equipment, tents, canvas, camping material, blankets, sleeping bags, oven and a cooking team, food, plenty of carrot cakes, and Helva (sweet made of sesame oil and honey).
As the quake struck Pakistan, the Turkish search and rescue teams as well as NGOs reached the most affected area, Muzaffarabad, and started their rescue operation. The Natural Disaster Search and Rescue teams from the Turkish Armed Forces, Special Forces Command, Civil Defence General Directorate, GEA Search and Rescue Association, AKUT and Lidam comprising 70 persons continued their activities in Muzaffarabad and rescued lives from the debris.
The Turkish medical team has established one field hospital for 50 persons and vaccinated around 30,000 people as well as provided First Aid to 5,000 quake-hit people so far.
There is a 22-member medical team and 66-member Turkish Red Crescent (TRC) team continuing activities in Muzaffarabad area. The TRC team has provided aid to more than 75,000 people. It is establishing tent villages in Muzaffarabad providing shelter to around 70,000 people.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan paid an official visit to Pakistan on October 20 and 21, 2005 in order to share the grief and agony of the brotherly people of Pakistan. During his visit, he pledged $150 million donation from the Turkish government. Out of this, $100 million will be paid in cash and $50 million in shape of humanitarian aid. The Pakistan authorities declared that this is the biggest pledge made by a single country so far.
In order to continue the humanitarian aid to the earthquake stricken people of Pakistan, the Turkish government will be sending 36 more C-130 military plane to Pakistan between October 28 and November 20.
Within this framework, the Turkish government will be sending one million blankets, 50,000 tonnes of flour, 25,000 tonnes of sugar, 2 million bottles of 1 liter cooking oil and tents.
The Turkish foreign affairs ministry through the Turkish Embassy in Islamabad is planning to establish a kindergarten or a primary school in quake-hit area on permanent basis and for this purpose funds are being collected at the Turkish foreign ministry.
All banks in Turkey have opened accounts for collecting relief aid. The Turkish Red Crescent has signed an agreement with the 3 major Turkish GSM service-providers in order to collect donations through SMS messages for the earthquake victims. Turkish Airlines, Ankara, Istanbul, Kocacli and Konya Municipalities, Human Rights and Foundation for the Human Freedom Assistance, Baskent University and Deniz Feneri Assistance and Solidarity Association are also sending extensive humanitarian aid to Pakistan.
Human Rights and Human Assistance Foundation are continuing their assistance by running one mobile hospital and one mobile restaurant. The Baskent University has sent humanitarian aid in shape of medicines worth around $150,000 for the quake-affected people. The Deniz Feneri Assistance and Solidarity Association have given around $500,000 assistance and they will be providing tunnel type tent for the accommodation of 100 families, 200 prefabricated houses, clothes, food and medicines. The Turkish Airlines has also decided to send 40 tonnes of humanitarian aid.
The Ankara Municipality has announced $1 million cash assistance and one million blankets. Whereas the Istanbul Municipality will be establishing two ovens in Muzaffarabad having the capacity to cook 10,000 to 11,000 breads per day, which will be distributed among the quake victims free of cost.-PR
Comments
Comments are closed.