Turkish President Appreciates Help from Indonesian Rescuers

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his appreciation to Indonesia for sending its rescue team to help the evacuation of the victims of the recent 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Turkey.

“Last night [Wednesday evening], I called President Erdogan about our medical and search and rescue members who are already in Turkey. And he appreciated the team,” said Indonesia’s President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in a statement on Thursday.

Jokowi said that he has also spoken with the Indonesian Search and Rescue (INASAR) team and Ambassador to Turkey Lalu Muhammad Iqbal from the headquarters of the National Search and Rescue Agency in Jakarta.

During the video call, Jokowi also received a report from the chief of the INASAR team involved in the humanitarian mission in Turkey Yopi Heryadi.

Also read: Indonesia Deploys 47 Rescuers to Turkey

Yopi said that his team, comprising 48 personnel and 2 sniffer dogs, landed at Adana Airport in Turkey on Feb. 12.

Upon their arrival, the team members immediately established a base of operation to support their search and rescue mission in seven areas, including Antakya, Haraparas, Çekmece, and Cebrail in Hatay province.

So far, the team has evacuated 12 victims.

Furthermore, the team has deployed two personnel at the reception and departure center (RDC) of the United Nations' International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) to help manage the arrival and return of international Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams.

The team has also stationed an officer at the USAR Coordination Cell (UCC), which is serving as the coordination center for the international search and rescue operation.

Also read: Indonesia to Send Humanitarian Aid to Turkey

In addition, Heryadi reported that so far, the quake —which occurred on Feb. 6 and was centered in Kahramanmara province— has claimed more than 30,000 lives in Turkey.

His team is continuing to help in searching for and evacuating victims who are still trapped under the rubble.

The disaster has also devastated a number of regions in Syria, which shares a border with Turkey, claiming more than 5,000 lives.

Indonesia dispatched two batches of logistical assistance, INASAR teams, and medical teams to help the victims of the disaster on Feb. 11 and Feb. 13.

The government is planning to send more assistance to Turkey and Syria on Feb. 20.

Source: State News Antara