Emirati team rescues 11-year-old child, elderly man from debris in Turkey

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The Emirati search and rescue team, as part of Operation The Gallant Knight 2, succeeded in rescuing two people, the first an 11-year-old child, and the second a man between the ages of 50 and 60 of Turkish nationality.

Both people were trapped under the rubble.

The search and rescue teams worked hard during that operation, which aimed to rescue the two people in the Kahramanmaraş region, until they were successful, after they spent about 120 hours among the rubble.

The medical teams concerned began to deal with the survivors efficiently and they are currently in good health.

As part of the support for earthquake victims, the UAE has sent search and rescue teams consisting of 134 members so far, despite the harsh weather conditions.

The UAE has sent five aircraft carrying relief supplies, which arrived on Friday in Turkey and Syria, bringing the total to 27 aircraft sent so far under the 'Gallant Knight/2' operation, launched with the purpose of aiding earthquake-affected people in both countries.

To date, the UAE has sent a total of 17 aircraft to Turkey, with the two that arrived on Friday. Meanwhile, the planes sent to Syria totalled 10, including the three planes that arrived on Friday, which airlifted 107 metric tonnes of relief supplies, comprising 87 tonnes of food supplies, 20 tonnes of medical supplies and 432 tents.

Dubai’s Emirates is setting up an airbridge with the International Humanitarian City (IHC), to transport urgent relief supplies, medical items and equipment to support on-ground aid efforts and search and rescue activities in both countries.

The first shipments are due to go out today on EK 121 and EK 117, consisting of high thermal blankets and family tents from United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), followed by World Health Organisation (WHO) and World Food Programme (WFP) relief cargo of medical kits and shelter items, co-ordinated by the IHC in Dubai.