International Emergency Relief Teams and Medical Teams Return to Japan for Earthquake Damage in Turkey
Japan has deployed international emergency rescue teams (rescue teams, medical teams, and expert teams) since immediately after the recent earthquake centered in southeastern Turkey. The first medical team was dispatched on February 10. Since then, a tent-type open-air hospital has been set up in Auzeri, Gaziantep, where medical needs are great, and medical activities have been carried out in cooperation with local medical institutions affected by the disaster. During this period, in addition to daytime outpatient care, we treated a total of approximately 2,000 patients, including various tests, x-rays, nighttime care, surgery, and hospitalization. The activities were continued by the second and third teams, with a total of approximately 180 people dispatched.
One month has passed since the earthquake, and local needs have shifted from acute post-disaster response to recovery and reconstruction. In terms of medical care, the number of illnesses and injuries directly related to the earthquake has decreased, and the health system is moving toward normalization. Emergency medical assistance from other countries is also moving toward return and withdrawal. In light of this situation, and as a result of repeated discussions with the Turkish government, it has been decided that the International Emergency Relief team and medical team will also conclude their activities and return to Turkey. The Turkish government has repeatedly expressed its gratitude for the prompt dispatch of the Japanese medical team and its past activities.
Based on local needs and requests from the Turkish government, and in consultation with the Japanese government, JICA intends to study and implement effective assistance from emergency relief to rehabilitation and reconstruction in the future.
(Reference) International Emergency Relief Teams and Medical Teams
The medical team consists of a leader, a doctor, a nurse, a pharmacist, a medical coordinator, and an operations coordinator. The first (75), second (65), and third (41) medical teams were dispatched.
… and upwards
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