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The VPA rescue delegation at Istanbul Airport |
After completing immigration procedures, the delegation were driven to Hatay province, some 1,100km from Istanbul.
As scheduled, the delegation will work with international rescue forces to perform search and rescue missions under the collapsed buildings as well as provide medical aids to the earthquake’s victims.
The Vietnamese search and rescue mission consisted of 76 soldiers, including 30 military medical officers, 30 engineers, six service dogs and nine handlers; and seven officers of the commanding chain. The delegation was led by Major General Pham Van Ty, Deputy Chief of the Standing Office of the National Committee in Incident, Disaster Response and Search and Rescue and Deputy Director of the Search and Rescue Department under the General Staff
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Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong encourages the troops. |
* Earlier, on February 12, the rescue force of the VPA consisting of 76 officers and non-commissioned officers set off to perform international service in Turkey to help the country overcome consequences of a recent devastating earthquake.
A farewell ceremony was held at 21:00 on the same day at the Noi Bai international Airport, under the chair of Chief of the General Staff and Deputy Defense Minister Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong. The ceremony was also attended by Deputy Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant General Nguyen Trong Binh, and Turkish Ambassador to Vietnam Haldun Tekneci.
Addressing the event, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong hailed the troops’ great efforts in overcoming difficulties during task implementation. In a very short time, the delegation made thorough preparations and was ready to perform their search and rescue task in Turkey as scheduled. Especially, the deputy defense minister spoke highly of the 76 officers and non-commissioned officers’ high determination and preparations for their upcoming task in Turkey.
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Participants at the farewell ceremony in a joint photo |
According to Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong, the Turkish side was waiting for search and rescue forces of nations, including Vietnam, and other international organizations to help them overcome the earthquake’s consequences. Among the Vietnamese search and rescue force who went to Turkey this time, there is a comrade who is about to get married two weeks later, however, he was determined to well fulfill his tasks in Turkey.
At the event, Gen. Cuong wished all the troops to promote heroic traditions of the VPA so as to best accomplish all assigned missions.
During an interview granted to the People’s Army Newspaper’s reporters, Major General Pham Van Ty noted that, before departing, all equipment and necessities serving search and rescue mission in Turkey were packed carefully. Especially, all 76 troops were well aware of their responsibility and determined to successfully fulfill all assigned tasks with absolute safety.
Reported by Van Hieu from Istanbul, Turkey and Vu Hung
Translated by Minh Anh