German teams have stopped earthquake rescue work in Turkey for security reasons – #German #teams #stopped #earthquake #rescue #work #Turkey #security #reasons
KIRIKHAN, Turkey/BERLIN, Feb 11 (Reuters) – Two German aid agencies suspended rescue operations in earthquake-hit Turkey on Saturday, citing security concerns and reports of clashes and shootings between groups of people.
Germany’s International Search and Rescue (ISAR) and Germany’s Federal Technical Assistance Agency (THW) said they would resume operations as soon as Turkey’s civil defense agency, AFAD, classified the situation as safe.
ISAR Operations Manager Steven Bayer said the security situation has deteriorated slightly since the disaster, which is typical in such circumstances.
“This is partly because now the food is running out, the water supply is running out, and then people go in search of food and water,” he said while speaking at a camp for rescuers in the city of Girikhan.
“The second thing is that people are losing hope, and that hope can turn into anger.”
Bayer previously told Reuters that the group would remain in the joint camp with THW for the time being, adding that the organizations would be ready to help immediately if there were any signs of survivors.
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“There are increasing reports of clashes between different groups and there are reports of shootings,” ISAR told Reuters by email.
Turkey The authorities did not report any clashes in the earthquake-affected region, however the president It’s Thai Erdogan Commenting on the general security situation on Saturday, he noted that a state of emergency had been declared and that there had been some looting.
This means that people who engage in looting or kidnapping should know that the state is strong hand it is on their backs”, he said during his visit to the region.
The Austrian Forces Disaster Relief Unit (AFDRU) also briefly suspended operations on Saturday and then resumed, Defense Ministry spokesman Michael Bauer said. Turkey tweeted that his army had taken over the protection of the AFDRU contingent.
82 rescuers of the Austrian armed forces have been in Antakya, Turkey since February 7, and their experts have rescued 9 people from the rubble.
Switzerland said that it is closely monitoring the security situation in Hatay and security measures have been increased accordingly.
Switzerland has sent 87 specialists and eight dogs to help with the rescue operation and has rescued 11 people, including two babies, since arriving on Tuesday. An additional 12-member team was sent on Friday.
Reporting by Erol Doğrudoğan in Kırıkhan, Turkey, Shubhendu Deshmukh in Bengaluru, Riham Alkousaa in Berlin, John Revill in Zurich Additional reporting by Ezgi Erkoyu in Istanbul Editing by Mark Potter and Francis Kerry
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2023-02-11 23:25:08
Source – reuters
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