Iraqi Civil Defense: Specialized Search and Rescue teams sent to Turkey

INA – BAGHDAD
 
The Directorate of Civil Defense announced on Wednesday, sending specialized search and rescue teams to Turkey, by the directives of Prime Minister Muhammed S. Al-Sudani.
 
"This afternoon, our specialized team in the field of search and rescue moved towards Turkey, after receiving an order from the Prime Minister and the instructions of the Minister of Interior in order to help save the victims of the devastating earthquake that rattled Turkey and Syria recently," according to a statement by the directorate, received by the Iraqi News Agency – INA.
 
The Director General of Civil Defense, Major General Mohsin Kadhim Alak, supervised the movement of the Iraqi civil defense team to Baghdad Airport in preparation for reaching Turkey, specifically the affected areas, after completing official and international approvals to request assistance from the Turkish side.
 
He pointed out that "the Iraqi Search and Rescue Team of the Directorate of Defense has a long history and accumulated experience in search and rescue operations. It is trained according to the highest international standards, which had a major role in protecting civilians during the liberation operations in the provinces that were affected by terrorism, especially in the city of Mosul."
 
“This team had a role in dealing with the accident of the collapse of the Qattara of Imam Ali - peace be upon him - in Karbala, as well as dealing with the accident of the collapse of the building of the national laboratory in Karrada and the collapse of the Al-Waziriyah building in Baghdad recently,” he included.
 
He expressed, "It is hoped that this team will arrive in the coming hours to provide a helping hand to the civilian victims, as well as to contribute and participate with international teams specialized in search and rescue operations.”