Turkey thanks Vietnam for humanitarian assistance in earthquake hit areas
VOV.VN - Turkish Ambassador to Vietnam Haldun Tekneci has expressed special thanks to Vietnam for sending teams to support recue work and deliver relief aid to people affected by a deadly earthquake that shook Turkey and Syria in early February 2023.
“Vietnam was one of the first countries sending rescue teams to Turkey after the 7.8 magnitude earthquake jolted Turkey and Syria on February 6,” said the ambassador at a ceremony in Hanoi on February 24 honouring 76 Vietnamese soldiers and officers for joining in a humanitarian mission in Turkey.
The Ministry of Public Security dispatched a contingent of 24 police officers while the Ministry of national Defense sent 76 soldier and officers to take part in rescue missions in Hatay and Adiyaman – the two provinces among the hardest hit localities in Turkey.
Besides undertaking rescue work, the Vietnamese rescue teams also provided 25 tonnes of goods, mostly food and medical supplies, as relief aid to local Turkish governments to support quake victims as well as medical treatment at hospital.
“Their selfless contributions and extremely noble actions clearly demonstrate Vietnam’s commitment to carrying out its global humanitarian mission,” said the ambassador.
According to the diplomat, Vietnam’s engagement in humanitarian missions in Turkey shows the good relations that Turkey and Vietnam have pursued over the years. This is also the first time that the Government of Vietnam has carried out a kind of humanitarian operation by dispatching a large force to Turkey.
“We would like to thank the Government of Vietnam for solidarity and mutual assistance that you have shown and provided us during these difficult times,” he noted.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on February 20 also visited international rescue workers, including those of the Vietnam People’s Army who were taking part in a rescue mission in earthquake-hit Hatay province.
The earthquake disaster once again showed the importance of international solidarity and that Turkey will never forget such friendship, he said.
The 7.8 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tremors rocked Turkey and Syria on February 6, killing more than 48,000 people, mostly Turkish people.
On February 19, the Turkish Government suspended search and rescue operations in most of the affected areas to begin national reconstruction.
The rescue teams of the Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of National Defense returned to Hanoi on February 19 and February 23 respectively.
