Post-quake efforts in Türkiye 'long-term operation,' says int'l aid worker

ADANA, Türkiye

An international aid worker has said the post-quake efforts in Türkiye will be a long-term operation.

“It (takes) long time to mobilize resources (for international NGOs) and earthquake response is a very long-term operation,” said Han Jang, team leader of South Korea-based GFoundation.

Speaking to Anadolu at Adana Airport, he said: "What we have realized is that the government and (Türkiye's disaster agency) AFAD, in general, is reacting very quickly. They are mostly in control of the situation. They are quick to assess the problems on the site and they are coordinating every activity… that is really good thing.”

After landing in Türkiye on Feb. 10, the South Korean team was joined by other colleagues on Friday who worked in parts of Adiyaman and Hatay.

He said the earthquake victims need food and shelter on an emergency basis.

At least 41,020 people were killed by two strong earthquakes that jolted southern Türkiye on Feb. 6, according to official figures. Thousands of others were injured.

The magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 quakes were centered in Kahramanmaras and struck 10 other provinces – Adana, Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Hatay, Gaziantep, Malatya, Kilis, Osmaniye, Elazig, and Sanliurfa. More than 13 million people have been affected by the devastating quakes.

Several countries in the region, including Syria and Lebanon, also felt the tremors that struck in less than 10 hours.

Over 9,000 international search and rescue personnel, including those from South Korea, flew into Türkiye after the quakes.

Türkiye issued a level-4 alert, calling in international aid.