Portugal sends a group of 53 people to Turkey to help the victims

Interior Minister José Luis Carneiro said on Tuesday that Portugal would send a team of 53 operatives to help victims in Turkey.

The team, made up of members of the National Civil Defence, the GNR Emergency Protection and Relief Group and emergency medical personnel, is part of the European Union’s humanitarian response.

Speaking on the same occasion to reporters, the President of the National Office for Emergency Situations and Civil Protection, Duarte da Costa, explained that this is a joint force with members of the structure of the National Office for Emergency Situations and Civil Protection (ANEPC), elements of UEPS from the GNR, units of the fire engineer regiment and medical intervention teams from INEM to ensure the security of the forces themselves.

“We plan to leave tomorrow [quarta-feira] daytime. In partnership with the European Mechanism, the methodologies needed to deploy forces to Turkey have already been found, along with other European efforts and other European forces that are currently being prepared,” he explained.

The mission is forecast to last between 10 and 15 days, but could be extended depending on what the team finds on the ground and depending on Portugal’s foreign policy, the official added.

José Luis Carneiro also said that there were no Portuguese in danger in the country and that all those in Turkey had been identified.

Duarte da Costa said the exact location where the Portuguese team will play is still unknown, but clarified that the details are being worked out with the Turkish authorities.

In addition to the 53 items, Portugal will also send search and rescue equipment, but not heavy equipment.

Two strong tremors were recorded this Monday in southern Turkey and northern Syria. The Portuguese Embassy in Ankara has set up a WhatsApp group for Portuguese citizens in the country that they can use in any emergency and has asked the people of the country to follow the civil protection recommendations.