The international community is coming together to support rescue efforts in response to the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck T?rkiye and Syria, according to AP News and others on the 7th (local time). Governments and relief organizations from various countries are dispatching personnel, funds, and equipment to assist with rescue operations in the earthquake-affected areas.
Despite tensions caused by the Ukraine war, both the United States and Russia, as well as China?which recently clashed with the U.S. over a reconnaissance balloon shootdown incident?have all been listed among the countries providing aid.
The European Union (EU) has deployed search and rescue teams to T?rkiye. It has activated the Copernicus satellite system, which supports disaster emergency response, to provide satellite imagery free of charge. At least 13 EU member states have offered assistance. The EU also stated that it is preparing humanitarian aid programs to help Syria.
The United States is coordinating search and rescue support teams to assist T?rkiye, a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). U.S.-supported humanitarian partners are also responding to the earthquake damage in Syria. In California, about 100 Los Angeles County firefighters and structural engineers are supporting rescue operations, including six specially trained dogs.
Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry rescue teams are also heading to Syria. The Russian military stationed in war-torn Syria has already sent 10 units comprising 300 personnel to rescue survivors and clear buildings collapsed by the earthquake.
Israel is sending a search and rescue team of 150 engineers, medical staff, and relief workers to T?rkiye. Although the two countries were once close regional allies and have experienced years of tension, they have recently improved relations. Israel also plans to provide humanitarian aid to Syria, with which it is at war.
Greece, a long-standing rival of T?rkiye, plans to send 21 rescue workers, two rescue dogs, and specialized rescue vehicles to T?rkiye. Five doctors, structural engineers, and earthquake disaster prevention experts will also be deployed.
The German Foreign Ministry announced that it is coordinating support with EU partners, including emergency generators, tents, blankets, and water purifiers. The United Kingdom is sending 76 emergency medical personnel and search and rescue experts with equipment to T?rkiye.
South Korea plans to dispatch an emergency relief team of about 110 people, mainly search and rescue personnel, to T?rkiye and deliver emergency relief supplies such as medicines by military transport aircraft. Japan is also preparing to send a rescue team of 75 members to T?rkiye.
The Lebanese government plans to send soldiers, first response teams from the Red Cross and civil defense, and firefighters. Additionally, Jordan, Egypt, India, Switzerland, Spain, Austria, Italy, France, Poland, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Moldova, New Zealand, and Mexico are among the countries listed as aid providers.
The Chinese Red Cross plans to provide $200,000 (approximately 370 million KRW) in aid to the Turkish and Syrian Red Crescent Societies, respectively.
Meanwhile, according to major foreign news outlets, the death toll in T?rkiye and Syria, where the strong earthquake occurred, has surpassed 5,000.
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