News About Earthquake Relief

Earthquakes are among the most devastating natural disasters, wreaking havoc on property and lives alike. Additionally, they may trigger a tsunami which will uproot people from their homes and destroy everything in its path.

When a section of a fault ruptures, it releases waves of energy which generate seismic vibrations that can travel across Earth's surface.

India Sends Rescue Personnel

India is dispatching rescue personnel to the scene of an earthquake. On Tuesday, an Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft left for Turkey carrying National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) search and rescue teams, specially trained dog squads, drilling machines as well as relief materials and medicines - one of several flights being sent from India to quake-hit countries.

Following the earthquake in Turkey, the Indian Army has sent a field hospital team from Agra. According to an Indian military statement, their 30-bed medical facility will be established in Turkiye.

According to the statement, the hospital will have X-ray and other equipment and be open 24 hours a day to provide medical help for victims of the earthquake.

Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar shared a separate tweet to express India's solidarity and convey India's support, including through the supply of medicines to Syrian President Faisal Mekdad.

According to an Indian Ministry of External Affairs statement, two National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) search and rescue teams were prepared for deployment. They are expected to arrive in the region by Thursday and begin working to free people trapped under collapsed buildings.

Turkish ambassador Firat Sunel noted the critical nature of the first 72 hours after an earthquake for rescue operations, noting his appreciation of India's "timely support" and thanking its government for its assistance.

On Monday morning, two powerful earthquakes struck southern Turkiye and caused devastating aftershocks around the world. These tremors could be felt in Syria, Lebanon, Cyprus and Israel alike.

At least 3,000 people were killed in Turkey and 1,700 in Syria from the earthquake that caused severe damage to thousands of homes across both countries.

On Tuesday morning, an Indian C-17 transport aircraft carrying NDRF search and rescue teams, dog squads, drilling machines, relief materials and medicine arrived in Adana, Turkey. A second plane with similar cargo followed shortly afterwards.

Under Operation Dost, India has already airlifted three NDRF search and rescue teams, a mobile hospital, relief material, and six tonnes of medicines to Turkey and Syria. On February 8th another flight landed with rescue personnel as well as essential supplies and medical equipment.

South Korea Sends Rescuers

Following an earthquake that claimed thousands of lives in Turkey and Syria, South Korea sent 118 rescuers to Turkey earlier this month. On Saturday afternoon, their team returned home after successfully concluding search and rescue operations.

On February 7, President Yoon Suk-yeol dispatched the Korea Disaster Relief Team (KDRT) to Turkey following a public-private interagency meeting between government and private organizations. This team consists of firefighters, military personnel and officials from both Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

At the airport, members of the team were welcomed by Turkish Ambassador to Seoul Murat Tamer and Korean Second Vice Foreign Minister Lee Do-hoon. Together with Turkish rescue workers, they will identify medical and shelter needs in Turkiye as well as plan for longer-term reconstruction through consultations with the Turkish government.

After arriving in Turkey, the KDRT established temporary command posts, coordinated supplies delivery and carried out other rescue missions, according to the ministry. They also donated 1 billion won ($778,000) worth of aid and equipment.

According to a ministry spokesperson, the team's mission will last seven days and may be extended if circumstances warrant.

Following a devastating earthquake in Syria and Turkey, the United Nations urged member states to provide rescue efforts, health services, shelter and food aid. The quake had caused extensive damage across government-held territory as well as Syria's last remaining opposition-held enclave.

The earthquake caused devastating destruction across Turkey, which hosts millions of refugees from Syria's civil war. Already overwhelmed medical facilities were soon filled with injured individuals.

Gaziantep, Turkey has been hit particularly hard by the earthquake. South Korea has sent a 60-member search and rescue team with medical supplies and equipment - as well as an initial donation of $5 million to Turkey to aid with recovery efforts.

Japan Sends Rescue Team

Japan is sending a rescue team to the site of an earthquake. According to a statement from Japan's Foreign Ministry, they will depart on Monday night local time.

The team will offer search-and-rescue services for missing individuals, as well as emergency humanitarian assistance to Turkiye, according to a statement from the ministry.

Governments must dispatch teams from abroad as quickly as possible, particularly within 72 hours after an earthquake, when survivors' chances for survival significantly reduce.

In response to Mexico's recent earthquake, a Japan Disaster Relief (JDR) rescue team was sent to the city of Mexico City to conduct emergency search and rescue operations. They flew out of Japan that same day and worked tirelessly for three days, saving more than one hundred people who had fallen from their roofs.

JDR Rescue Teams are comprised of personnel on a registry of police officers, firefighters and coast guard members that have been trained to respond rapidly and precisely to large-scale disasters. They are always prepared to depart within 24 hours after receiving orders from the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Japan dispatches rescue teams to guarantee the highest standards of safety and security. In addition to offering rescue services, JDR rescue teams also provide aid such as blankets and tents for victims.

The team consists of personnel selected from the nation's highest fire and police agencies. They have undergone training to become familiar with international rescue techniques and search-and-rescue procedures.

They must learn the languages of each country they will work in, as well as be prepared to conduct searches with dogs that could help locate victims buried beneath debris or caught in crevices.

Japan appoints experts to its team, who then receive detailed instructions on what equipment and items are most needed. These are determined by a list of priorities established by the government and foreign missions.

Coordination between trilateral fronts can present unique challenges, but it's imperative to send rescue teams as quickly as possible after a major catastrophe strikes. It is essential to comprehend the situation and plan ahead for the earliest arrival of teams, their movement and transport needs, as well as receiving medical personnel from abroad.

Russia Sends Aid

On Monday morning, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake that rocked Turkey and Syria shook both countries to its core was felt across Russia. Following phone conversations between President Vladimir Putin, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad to express his condolences for the devastation caused by the quake, President Putin decided to send rescue teams into both nations.

Although many organizations have sent personnel and supplies to the scene of the earthquake, there remain significant gaps in international response to this disaster. Particularly, people living outside government controlled areas such as north-west Syria remain completely cut off from any international assistance.

In Syria, the United Nations and other aid organizations have been working to deliver supplies into rebel-held northwestern regions that have not received assistance since the conflict began in 2011. It's been nearly five days since U.N. supplies first reached these regions of northwest Syria; however, it appears they may take some time before reaching government-controlled Aleppo where most distribution centers are situated.

The United States has been providing assistance to the region through its base at Incirlik Air Force Base, which has served as a distribution point for aid. Furthermore, the US government has pledged $50 million towards the relief effort.

One of the major obstacles preventing aid from entering Syria has been Russia's opposition to expanding border crossings between Syria and Turkey, which would allow outside help into Syria. This has created a stalemate within the United Nations, leading to accusations on Thursday from both sides that Russia was impeding relief efforts after Syria's recent earthquake.

The United Nations hopes more border crossings will open up to allow international aid into Syria, particularly rebel-held northwestern regions that have not seen any assistance since the start of the conflict in 2011. But this is unlikely to occur soon and so the UN must continue working with its partners to guarantee assistance reaches everyone who needs it, no matter their location.