Oman opens humanitarian bridge to Syria, Turkey
IN RESPONSE TO ROYAL DIRECTIVES OF HIS MAJESTY
Published: 06:02 PM,Feb 08,2023 | EDITED : 10:02 PM,Feb 08,2023
MUSCAT/ANTAKYA: In compliance with the Royal directives of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, the Sultanate of Oman on Wednesday began operating an airbridge to transport relief aid and medical supplies to earthquake-hit areas in Syria and Turkey.
The move, which seeks to alleviate the suffering of brethren there, stems from Oman’s keenness on performing its humanitarian duty.
The Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority also dispatched a search and rescue team to participate in global operations in southern Turkey. The team left on Wednesday onboard a Royal Air Force of Oman aircraft.
Since the moment Turkish authorities declared earthquake, Oman’s Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority joined hands with the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG), which affirmed the full mobilisation of its force to participate in rescue operations in earthquake-hit areas.
TOLL RISES
Searchers were still pulling survivors on Wednesday from the rubble of the earthquake that killed over 11,200 people in Turkey and Syria, even as rescue chances dwindled and victims clamoured for help.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited one of the hardest-hit spots, quake epicentre Kahramanmaras, and pushed back at criticism his government's response has been slow.
'Initially there were issues at airports and on the roads, but today things are getting easier and tomorrow it will be easier still,' he said in televised remarks.
For two days and nights since the 7.8 magnitude quake, thousands of searchers have worked in freezing temperatures to find those still alive under flattened buildings on either side of the border.
Turkish Red Crescent chief Kerem Kinik had warned that the first 72 hours were critical in search and rescue efforts but pointed to complications of 'severe weather conditions'.
Emergency workers on Wednesday saved some children found under a collapsed building in the hard-hit Turkish province of Hatay, where whole stretches of towns have been levelled.
'All of a sudden we heard voices and thanks to the excavator... immediately we heard the voices of three people at the same time,' said rescuer Alperen Cetinkaya.
'We are expecting more of them... the chances of getting people out of here alive are very high,' he added.
Officials and medics said 8,574 people had died in Turkey and 2,662 in Syria from Monday's 7.8-magnitude tremor, bringing the total to 11,236 -- but that could yet double if the worst fears of experts are realised.
The World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has warned that time is running out for the thousands injured and those still feared trapped. - ONA/AFP
The move, which seeks to alleviate the suffering of brethren there, stems from Oman’s keenness on performing its humanitarian duty.
The Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority also dispatched a search and rescue team to participate in global operations in southern Turkey. The team left on Wednesday onboard a Royal Air Force of Oman aircraft.
Since the moment Turkish authorities declared earthquake, Oman’s Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority joined hands with the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG), which affirmed the full mobilisation of its force to participate in rescue operations in earthquake-hit areas.
TOLL RISES
Searchers were still pulling survivors on Wednesday from the rubble of the earthquake that killed over 11,200 people in Turkey and Syria, even as rescue chances dwindled and victims clamoured for help.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited one of the hardest-hit spots, quake epicentre Kahramanmaras, and pushed back at criticism his government's response has been slow.
'Initially there were issues at airports and on the roads, but today things are getting easier and tomorrow it will be easier still,' he said in televised remarks.
For two days and nights since the 7.8 magnitude quake, thousands of searchers have worked in freezing temperatures to find those still alive under flattened buildings on either side of the border.
Turkish Red Crescent chief Kerem Kinik had warned that the first 72 hours were critical in search and rescue efforts but pointed to complications of 'severe weather conditions'.
Emergency workers on Wednesday saved some children found under a collapsed building in the hard-hit Turkish province of Hatay, where whole stretches of towns have been levelled.
'All of a sudden we heard voices and thanks to the excavator... immediately we heard the voices of three people at the same time,' said rescuer Alperen Cetinkaya.
'We are expecting more of them... the chances of getting people out of here alive are very high,' he added.
Officials and medics said 8,574 people had died in Turkey and 2,662 in Syria from Monday's 7.8-magnitude tremor, bringing the total to 11,236 -- but that could yet double if the worst fears of experts are realised.
The World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has warned that time is running out for the thousands injured and those still feared trapped. - ONA/AFP