Taiwan continues to enhance its donations of post-earthquake relief aid to Türkiye following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Feb. 14.
The Taiwan search and rescue team donated a total of 4 tons, or 55 pieces, of disaster relief equipment and materials Feb. 13 to Türkiye’s AKUT Search and Rescue Association (AKUT) in Istanbul, the MOFA said. Presented by Volkan C. Y. Huang, head of Taipei Economic and Cultural Mission in Ankara, the equipment and materials were received by AKUT representative Tugay Yilmazberk, the ministry added.
According to the MOFA, the 130-member team and five rescue dogs successfully concluded their mission and were evacuated from the quake-hit Adiyaman Province. They will leave for Taiwan Feb. 14, the ministry said.
The ministry also coordinated with the Ministry of National Defense on continuing dispatch of relief, the MOFA said, adding that a total of 10 military trucks and 30 personnel were provided by the MND Feb. 13-16 to help transport Love from Taiwan donations to Taoyuan International Airport for shipment to Türkiye.
In addition, another 20 tons of supplies collected by non-governmental organizations will be sent to Ankara Governorship Social Assistance Solidarity Foundation, which will coordinate with the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) for transportation to disaster-hit areas, the MOFA added.
The ministry said the country is receiving a chorus of appreciation from Turkish officials, parliamentarians, non-governmental organization leaders and the people of Türkiye. These include former Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Governor of Adiyaman Mahmut Cuhadar and Mayor of Reyhanli Mehmet Hacioglu, the MOFA added.
Taiwan and Türkiye share common experience of the necessity for prompt earthquake relief, the MOFA said, adding that the ministry will continue to promote exchanges between the relevant authorities while deepening the long-term friendship between disaster relief teams. (YCH-E)
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