Turkish-Canadian society calls for changes in deployment of rescue crews after disasters | 24CA News

The Turkish-Canadian Society is looking for a change in the way in which Canada deploys rescue crews to worldwide disasters after just one group deployed to Turkey after final week’s earthquake.

Sina Kutluay, a spokesperson for the group, mentioned members had been disheartened that the Burnaby Urban Search and Rescue group from British Columbia, which self-deployed final week, will stay the one Canadian crew within the quake zone. This comes after the Vancouver consulate mentioned a deadline for others to take part had expired.

“Because of some formalities or some logistical issues, they couldn’t make it,” Kutluay mentioned in an interview Sunday, referring to federally co-ordinated search crew deployments.

“It is not a normal situation (where you have time to) ask for permission. You have to go there and start digging and saving people. I think that needs to be revisited after this experience.”

The Burnaby search crew made headlines Friday after footage from the CBC confirmed members being thanked and embraced by Turkish colleagues on the scene, moments after a dust-covered lady was taken to an ambulance within the metropolis of Adiyaman after being pulled from rubble.

The crew mentioned in a Facebook publish Saturday that it stays on the bottom within the southeastern metropolis, on the lookout for different “victims still trapped in collapsed homes.”

Kutluay mentioned the Turkish-Canadian Society may be very grateful to the group for his or her work, noting that it demonstrates the advantages of a streamlined course of that might enable extra crews to deploy after a catastrophe.

1:35Turkey earthquake: Survivors battle bitterly chilly temperatures inside tent cities

“I’m sure they could have saved so many people still, because it’s been a week now and there are still children and people (being found) alive under the collapsed buildings.”

He mentioned members of the society had been attending their Annual General Meeting when the quake occurred and that one in all their first actions was to draft an electronic mail to the Prime Minister and different Canadian politicians asking for search and rescue groups to be deployed shortly.

Canadian federal authorities didn’t give an official go-ahead to any rescue groups after Monday’s quake, which has killed many hundreds, however have despatched an evaluation group and dedicated $10 million to aid efforts.

“This contribution will help support emergency medical services and provide shelter, food and other essential items,” Global Affairs Canada mentioned in a press release Saturday.

It mentioned Canada may even match each donation made to the Canadian Red Cross for Turkey and Syria till Feb. 22, as much as $10 million.

Kutluay mentioned the society is now centered on serving to co-ordinate donations and offering assist to neighborhood members who’ve misplaced household or mates within the quake.

“We are now in the process of finding impacted students who are studying in Canada. We would like to find them, reach them and co-ordinate support for them in the coming days,” he mentioned.

Kutluay additionally famous that many individuals had been initially donating support supplies, together with blankets, tents and meals, as Turkish Airlines agreed to move the products without spending a dime. However, he mentioned all the storage warehouses at the moment are full, so the society is advising individuals to as an alternative assist via monetary donations.

“For now, funding is the most important,” he mentioned. “This will not go away in a couple of weeks or months. It will be a really long support effort.”

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