Greece has sent four flights carrying humanitarian aid to Türkiye on Thursday while another two flights are due to depart. The humanitarian aid amounts to 90 tonnes in total. The European Civil Protection Mechanism is covering 75 pct of the transport costs while the remaining 25pct, representing the national contribution, is covered by AEGEAN Airlines.
The first humanitarian mission of the Hellenic Red Cross to support the affected areas in Turkey is to depart on Friday from Athens.
Three trucks and a rescue vehicle of the Hellenic Red Cross, manned by its specially trained staff, will transport approximately 40 tons of humanitarian aid (durable food, tents, blankets, sleeping bags, personal hygiene items, etc.), which will be delivered directly to the warehouses of the Turkish Red Cross, in the center of the affected area.
It is noted that the next mission of the Hellenic Red Cross will soon depart for Syria.
A group of 30 trained volunteers of the national Hellenic Rescue Team (HRT) is departing on Thursday night to help in earthquake-stricken Türkiye with a rescue dog and specialized equipment.
The HRT is expected to fly to Istanbul and catch a flight on to Adana, in the company of officials of the Turkish Directorate of Catastrophe and Emergency Situations Management (AFAD), with whom it will work in the field.
The equipment they are taking with them includes among others hydraulic rescue tools, thermal cameras, toxic gas sensors, generators, telecommunications equipment, stretchers, defibrillators, and other first-aid material. All team members will wear and carry personal safety equipment.
HRT’s dispatch is supported by the Turkish Consulate in Thessaloniki and the Turkish Embassy in Athens.
