The Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, has stated that there is no return date «yet» for the Spanish rescue teams in Turkey and has regretted «not being able to extend the mission in Syria», as it is «complicated», after the devastating earthquakes in both countries.
This is what he said in an interview to Canal 24 Horas de RTVE, picked up by Europa Press, in which he explained that «the Turkish authorities are the ones who are in charge of the total organization» and they are carrying it out «in stages».
«This first stage, which are these first days, has a fundamental objective and is the evacuation and rescue of people who may be buried in the rubble at this moment,» he added. This operation could last two or three days, according to Robles.
Regarding Syria, the Minister of Defense regretted not being able to participate in the rescue work in the Asian country: «One of the things that causes us all the most pain is not being able to have these interventions in Syria, because in Turkey the international community is turning its attention».
In this sense, he admitted that it is «difficult» and «complicated» not to be able to extend this mission to Syrian territory «not only for Spain but for many countries».
This week’s devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria have already claimed the lives of more than 24,000 people while the international community continues its relief efforts and rescue teams make a final effort to continue finding survivors, five days after the earthquakes.
According to the latest official toll on Saturday, at least 20,665 people have died in Turkey alone, where the number of injured is 80,088. In neighboring Syria, 3,553 people are reported dead and 5,276 injured, for a total of 24,218.
«SATISFACTION» FOR SPAIN’S HELP IN TURKEY During the interview, Robles highlighted the latest actions of the Spanish teams in Turkey: the rescue of a boy and a girl alive by the troops of the Military Emergency Unit (UME) and the participation of the Spanish Marines in the rescue of a child alive.
«I feel very proud and it is a satisfaction for all of us and also for all of Spain, being very supportive of the terrible situation that Turkey is going through,» the minister thanked.
The Spanish Navy ships ‘Juan Carlos’ I and ‘Galicia’ left last Monday in the direction of the area affected by the earthquake in Turkey to help in the work of rescuing people, in addition to two airplanes, one of the Military Emergency Unit (UME) and another with firefighters from the Community of Madrid.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
