(VOVWORLD) -The Vietnam People’s Army team has successfully completed its mission of humanitarian assistance, rescue and relief for earthquake-hit Turkey.
 Major General Pham Van Ty, head of the Vietnamese rescue team in quake-hit Turkey (Photo: VVNA) |
Major General Pham Van Ty, head of the team, said the Vietnamese rescuers are scheduled to return to Vietnam on Thursday.
“Over the last 10 days, we searched 31 locations and identified 15 locations where victims were buried in the rubble. We cooperated with other countries in search and rescue work using sniffer dogs and detection equipment such as through-the-wall radar," he said.
"We were well-received by the Turkish people. Wherever we went, people were grateful for providing them with food and water and helping them search, locate, and bring their relatives out of the rubble,” said Mr. Ty.
This is the first time Vietnam has sent forces and supplies abroad to respond to an earthquake disaster. This affirms Vietnam's responsibility for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, as well as its capacity to respond to non-traditional challenges, Major General Ty said.
The Vietnam rescue team on Tuesday handed over nearly 25 tons of aid goods including dry food, rice, milk, medical supplies and many other necessities donated by the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense to Turkey for disaster recovery.