Vietnam Joins Int’l Community to Addresss Consequences of Turkey-Syria Earthquakes

The Permanent Mission of Turkey to the UN speaks at the UN at the commemoration on February 15. Photo: VNA

Vietnamese Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang offered condolences to the Turkish Government and people over the life and property losses in the recent earthquake while attending a commemoration held by the Permanent Mission of Turkey to the UN in New York on February 15, VNA reported Thursday.

The Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN also informed the Turkish ambassador to the UN about the Vietnamese Government’s decision to send teams of 100 military and public security officers to help with search and rescue efforts in Turkey and to supply USD 100,000 in aid each for Turkey and its neighbor Syria, which was also hit by the disaster.

Giang affirmed that within its capacity, Vietnam will continue joining the international community in assisting Turkey to address the earthquake aftermath.

Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang (R) offers condolences to leaders of the Permanent Mission of Turkey to the UN at the commemoration on February 15. Photo: VNA

At the event, which also saw the presence of ambassadors and heads of delegations of many other UN state members, the Turkish ambassador thanked the international community for swift and practical assistance for his country.

By the end of February 15, the earthquake death toll in Turkey and Syria amounted to over 41,000.

The 76-strong rescue teams of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA), along with 35 tonnes of cargo, departed for Turkey on February 12 night to assist the country in recovery efforts following the devastating earthquakes.

Deputy head of the Police Department of Fire Prevention, Fighting and Rescue Colonel Nguyen Minh Khuong, who leads the rescue team of the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security, said they have closely coordinated with rescue forces from the US and Turkey and used different equipment in the work.

The 24-member team of the ministry has engaged in search and rescue efforts in the Turkish southeastern city of Adiyaman, which is among the localities bearing the brunt of the earthquake, after they arrived at Istanbul International Airport on February 10.

Meanwhile, the Vietnamese Embassy in Turkey and the embassy in Iran and Syria have delivered letters of sympathy from Vietnam to local administrations over the losses in the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria.

Vietnamese teams perform search and rescue activities in Turkey. Photo: VNA

Besides, the embassy in Turkey escorted the rescue team from the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence to the site in distress and handed over the relief to the deputy governor of Hatay province.

It coordinated with local authorities to help the Vietnamese teams settle down and ensure security for them.

The administrations of southeastern provinces of Turkey thanked and highly valued the capacity of the Vietnamese teams, the embassy noted.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Iran and Syria, together with the Vietnamese community in Iran, raised donations to earthquake victims in Syria and presented assistance to the Syrian Embassy in Iran.

In the coming days, under the Foreign Ministry’s directions, the two embassies will maintain a close watch on the situation while actively working with local authorities and the Vietnamese teams to give the best support for research and rescue efforts, they added.

On February 14, at the headquarters of the Syrian Embassy, Ambassador Luong Quoc Huy signed the mourning book and handed over the donation of USS 1,000 to the Syrian Ambassador to Iran Daiyoub.

On February 12, Counselor Nguyen Tung Lam, Head of the Community Affairs Board of the Vietnamese Embassy in Russia, and representatives of the Vietnamese community, through the Syrian Embassy in Russia, presented a shipment of canned items for children and adults as well as some essential goods to be transferred to Syria to help the victims of the recent terrible earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.

At the reception, Syrian Ambassador to Russia Bashar al-Jafari expressed his emotion to welcome the Vietnamese delegation. He said the recent earthquake had caused great damage to Syria, leaving many victims, and many buildings collapsed.

Moreover, Syria has been in a difficult economic situation due to conflicts since 2011. Therefore, the support items that the Vietnamese community gives to the Syrian people clearly show their support and sharing from the heart of the Vietnamese people.

Vietnamese in Russia join hands to help earthquake victims in Syria. Photo: VNA

For his part, Counselor Nguyen Tung Lam affirmed that the Syrian people are close friends of the Vietnamese people and expressed condolences to Ambassador al-Jafari, the people, and the country of Syria for the pain and loss.

In response to the call of the Syrian Embassy, in just two days, Vietnamese people who have lived in Moscow for a long time organized a campaign and made donations to buy instant food and essential goods to support earthquake victims with a total worth of about RUB 500,000 (USD 7,000).

Since February 6, the time after the devastating earthquakes, the Syrian Embassy in Moscow has become a center for receiving relief supplies, with many residents and volunteers in Moscow arriving. here to deliver relief goods to the Embassy, as well as assist in sorting, packing and transporting them for later air shipment to the victims in Syria.

The Vietnamese community in Russia has donated a shipment of canned and instant food for children and adults and some essential goods to be sent to Syria to help victims of the recent terrible earthquake. Photo: VNA

Talking to VNA, Vietnamese Ambassador to Turkey Do Son Hai said this is the first time Vietnam has sent rescue teams to such faraway places, and their efforts have been highly valued by people and authorities of Adiyaman city, where the team from the Ministry of Public Security are working, and Hatay province, where the team from the Defence Ministry are performing search and rescue duties.

He expressed his hope that the teams will show Turkey and international friends the rescue capacity of Vietnam, adding other countries have highly valued not only the capacity but also the industriousness of the Vietnamese teams.

The embassy will do its utmost to assist the teams, Hai noted, adding that the coordination with other international teams will also give considerable lessons to the search and rescue officers of Vietnam.