- instant extra support will help save lives and prevent suffering
- package deal to include thousands of tents, covers and hygiene kits
- worldclass UK surgical team plus equipment will help address immediate medical needs
- 77 strong UK search and save team already on the ground assisting to find survivors
The united kingdom is also providing a world-class team of UK medics along with surgical capabilities and apparatus to provide vital emergency treatment. Our concern is to ensure life preserving assistance is given to these most in need, matched with the Turkish government, UN and international partners. The UK is sending life saving package to Turkey and Syria. This will include vital medical expertise and hygiene kits and also tents and blankets to help people keep warm and sheltered in the horrible freezing conditions they are needing to endure on top of the devastation of the earthquakes. The government remains in contact with British humanitarian education workers in the affected areas, and we stand ready to aid any British nationals affected. The united kingdom government is today (Wednesday 8 February) announcing additional support to Turkey plus Syria following the devastating earthquakes. The UK will provide vital items such as tents and blankets to help survivors cope with the freezing conditions, as part of the immediate response to the crisis. The equipment being urgently deployed from the UK’s stockpile will meet the needs of up to 15, 000 people.
The UK is coordinating closely using the Turkish government and United Nations (UN) in Syria to make sure our support meets the requirements on the ground and that we can stay responsive to emerging needs in the coming days. Their specialist skills and state-of-the-art heavy duty equipment enables the UK team to cut their own way into buildings and locate survivors in the rubble during this vital time.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said: This particular £8 million of extra support comes after a team of 77 UK search and rescue specialists, equipment and four search canines arrived in Gaziantep yesterday to begin their life saving operations. The UK is prioritising the actual Turkish government and EL are asking for. The additional support will save lives by getting world-class UK expertise plus equipment to the region. The announcement comes in the critical 72 hours following a first earthquake. The assistance will be used to urgently provide life saving interventions to the people who need it most in the area as temperatures plummet.
