Home ›› 10 Feb 2023 ›› Back
Turkey has sought in-kind assistance from Bangladesh for the survivors of Monday’s devastating earthquake. It also sought experienced volunteers for search and rescue operations in different affected provinces in the country.
Turkish Ambassador to Dhaka Mustafa Osman Turan made the appeal at a press conference at the Turkish Embassy in Dhaka on Thursday.
He also confirmed that till now, they have no information about any Bangladeshi casualties in the earthquake.
According to an AFP report, hopes were fading Thursday for rescuing survivors in Turkey and Syria, which has killed over 17,500 people in one of the deadliest tremors in decades.
The report said bitter cold has hampered the four-day search of thousands of flattened buildings and the 72-hour mark that experts consider the most likely period to save lives has passed.
At the press conference, the Turkish ambassador said that they will not receive any cash assistance. Those who are interested can deliver the products necessary for the survivors to the Turkish Embassy in Dhaka, the ambassador requested.
Through the social media accounts, Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) campaign and the embassy have provided a list of necessary products and the delivery process. The list includes blankets, portable generators, power banks, charge lights, dry foods, diapers, napkins, biscuits, peanuts, and tea bags.
Mustafa said, “We have decided not to receive cash assistance. We have launched the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency Campaign today (Thursday) for in-kind assistance. We have published a list of items, both medical and non-medical, on the embassy’s social media account. We request everyone to deliver the products following the process mentioned on the social media account.”
Turkish Airlines will carry these products free of charge and the Bangladesh government will facilitate the customs clearances for the quick delivery of this humanitarian assistance, he informed.
Mustafa said, “Millions of people have been affected by this devastating quake. As of 3.00am Thursday, we have lost 12,391 Turkish citizens while 62,940 have been injured. Rescue work is going on round the clock. I am afraid this number will increase.”
“Some 6,440 buildings have collapsed. There are still people trapped in the rubble. So, the next two days are very crucial to save lives,” he said.
The ambassador also informed that the immediate-past Turkish ambassador to Bangladesh, who was posted in one of the affected provinces, and his family members are also among the missing.
“We want to receive some volunteers who would like to go to Turkey. We are seeking people experienced in search and rescue operations,” he said.
“The first quake took place at 4.17 am with 7.7 magnitudes when people were sleeping and the second one at 1.24 pm on the same day with 7.6 magnitudes. These two earthquakes were followed by hundreds of aftershocks,” Mustafa said.
He said Bangladesh’s president, prime minister, speaker of the parliament, and minister of foreign affairs have sent their messages of condolence as well as support and solidarity to the victims.
“All these messages are very much appreciated in my country. Bangladesh is not only sending messages. The Bangladesh government sent a search and rescue team of 46 experts on Wednesday evening, and the team has already been deployed to my country. This is a gesture we will not forget,” Mutafa said, adding that Bangladesh is one of the countries that responded to this disaster in my country very quickly.
“More than 50 countries have sent assistance and support; but Kosovo, Azerbaijan, and Bangladesh are the three countries who declared a national mourning,” the ambassador said.
