Turkey dispatches assistance, aid team to Beirut

ANKARA

Turkish military plane carrying aid, health personnel, and rescue team arrived in Beirut on Aug. 6 following the deadly blast that killed at least 135 people and injured thousands.
 
The aircraft was carrying 21 National Medical Rescue personnel, two emergency units, three tents, medicine and medical equipment, 10 AFAD personnel, equipment, a search and rescue vehicle and team, three Turkish Red Crescent (Kızılay) personnel, and medical and humanitarian aid.
 
“We are here until this disaster is over,” said Mehmet Gulluoglu, the head of Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) who also accompanied the search and medical teams to Beirut.
 
There is enormous trauma in the region following the explosion, and 20 more National Medical Rescue personnel, including trauma experts, surgeons, orthopedics experts, and emergency medical doctors will be on their way to Beirut, Güllüoğlu added.
 
Turkish officials extended support to the people of Lebanon after the deadly blast claimed the lives of more than 100 and injured thousands.

“We stand with our Lebanese brothers and sisters. We share their pain and will do everything we can to relieve them of their distress,” Communications Directorate head Fahrettin Altun tweeted on Aug. 6.

“We are sending assistance to our Lebanese brothers and sisters with aid via our Koca Yusuf plane,” he said, highlighting that the Turkish nation “serves peace and stability.”

Numan Kurtulmuş, deputy chair of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), while speaking to a local radio program, shared his condolences with the people of Lebanon following the massive explosion in the capital Beirut.  
 
“This has been devastating, making one speechless on seeing the footage of the explosion coming from Beirut. It astounds one to see such a huge amount of chemicals stored in one place,” he said.
 
“Turkey is prepared to do everything to stand by the Lebanese people without discrimination. We hope this does not turn out to be a terrorist attack. We stand with Lebanon with all our power,” he stated.