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Department for Natural Disasters and Emergency Situations of Turkey: Azerbaijanâ€™s unsolicited assistance was an expression of brotherhood feelings, which couldnâ€™t be put into words

01 November 2011 08:19 (UTC +04:00)

Istanbul. Mais Alizadeh â€“ APA. â€œ20-25 countries suggested first aid to us after the quake in Van. But the Azerbaijani Emergency Ministry sent the first aid to the region without addressing us and waiting our appeal. It was an expression of brotherhood feelings, which couldnâ€™t be put into wordsâ€, spokesman for the Department for Natural Disasters and Emergency Situations under the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkey Mustafa Aydogdu told APAâ€™s correspondent.

Reminding about the sending of first aid and rescue team consisting 145 experts on board of two planes by Azerbaijani Ministry of Emergency Situations, Aydogdu said that the rescuers were working in the quake-hit region selflessly: â€œAzerbaijanâ€™s assistance was very valuable for us. I must especially note the professionalism of the Azerbaijani rescuersâ€.

He said that they were closely cooperating with the Azerbaijani Ministry of Emergency Situations: â€œWe often visit Azerbaijan, become familiar with the ministryâ€™s modern technologies and work experience. Azerbaijan is a fraternal country to us and renders all assistances with the fraternal sense, our cooperation will continue at a high level afterwardsâ€.

7.2-magnitude quake hit Van on October 23. According to the official reports 601 people were killed, 4152 injured and 188 people were pulled out alive from the rubbles.

Ministry of Emergency Situations of Azerbaijan had sent to Turkey 1250 tents, 6050 blankets, 40 generators, 40 kitchen sets and more than 850 bed linens. The total amount of the aid sent to Turkey was approximately $1.8 million.

213 rescuers of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Emergency Situations participated in the operations in Van. Azerbaijani rescuers pulled 12 people alive and 60 bodies from the rubbles.