UAE’s Ministry of Defence ends rescue and search activities in Turkey

The Joint Operations Command of the Ministry of Defence has announced the completion of the search and rescue missions as part of the “Gallant Knight / 2” operation in Turkey.

It follows the announcement by the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) that it has completed its search and rescue operation.

Following 14 consecutive days in Turkey, the Emirati search and rescue team will begin returning to UAE today.

أعلنت قيادة العمليات المشتركة بوزارة الدفاع عن انتهاء عمليات فريق البحث والإنقاذ من وزارة الداخلية المشارك في عملية الفارس الشهم/2 في تركيا، وذلك بعد إعلان منظمة الطوارئ والكوارث التركية (AFAD) عن إنتهاء عمليات البحث والإنقاذ في تركيا. pic.twitter.com/hyhGqmQWLr

— وزارة الدفاع |MOD UAE (@modgovae) February 20, 2023

The “Gallant Knight / 2” operation came under the directives of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Turkey’s director-general for Disaster Response expressed gratitude to the Emirati team for its speedy response and remarkable assistance during a difficult time.

The Emirati search and rescue team is the last internationally classified team to leave Turkey after the Turkish government announced the end of search and rescue operations.

During the operation, the team managed to rescue 10 people and recover 26 bodies.

Read: UAE establishes field hospital, sends search and rescue teams to Türkiye, Syria

In recent news, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan ordered an additional $50m to be provided as relief aid for quake-impacted victims in Syria.

A sum of $20m from this amount will be allocated to implement humanitarian projects in response to the emergency appeal from the UN regarding Syria.

The projects will be carried out in coordination with the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA), according to the state news agency, WAM.

Also read: UAE President orders additional $50m in relief aid for Syria