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Hunor Hungarian Rescue Team Helps in Türkiye

Text: honvedelem.hu/MTI | Photo: Tünde Rácz |  11:11 February 7, 2023

On Monday, the Hunor Hungarian Rescue Team left Budapest for Türkiye, to help those affected by the earthquake.

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In saying farewell to the search and rescue team of the National Directorate General for Disaster Management, MoI Parliamentary State Secretary Bence Rétvári emphasized that providing fast assistance in such a disaster situation is critical. The faster the help arrives, the more lives can be saved. This is all the more important, since more than 1000 people have been confirmed dead in the disaster that struck in the early hours on Monday, and 5000–6000 have been injured”, said Bence Rétvári.

He noted that the Hunor team was established 11 years ago, and since then Hungarian disaster management has proven it to be one of the world’s best prepared rescue teams. Hunor has provided help in Serbia, Macedonia and Japan among other places, he said.

Through its activity, the “elite unit” of Hungarian disaster management will also strengthen Hungarian–Turkish friendship, said Bence Rétvári, who thanked the members of the team for their work.

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At the event, it was also revealed that the 55-member team leaving for Türkiye comprises firefighters, military doctors and emergency medical technicians of the ambulance service. Its mission in Türkiye will also be assisted by search dogs.

The team and its 9 tons of equipment and supplies are flown from Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport to Adana Airport, Türkiye aboard an Airbus A319 aircraft of the Hungarian Defence Forces. After their arrival, the work of the Hungarian rescue team will be directed by Türkiye’s disaster management authority.

It was stated that the equipment of Hunor enables the rescue team to be self-sufficient for 10 days, which means that they don’t need to use the resources of the local disaster management. Türkiye has called for international assistance through the European Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC).

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Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky wrote on his social media page that five military traumatologists also accompany the team, so as to help with the search and rescue of the injured and with their supply in the earthquake-ridden area.

“We sympathize with our Turkish friends, Hungary is ready to help!”, wrote the Minister of Defence.