The deadly earthquakes in Turkey resulted in the massive mobilization of the Turkish state apparatus and the sending of aid from many countries, including our country.
We remind you that in our previous article we had referred extensively to the fact that the Turks on November 13, 2022, i.e. three months earlier, had carried out a National Exercise throughout Turkey and its occupied territories in the event of a major earthquake, where the entire state mechanism and cooperation was tested of all the agencies among themselves, just like in the war for example, with a different scenario, but for the same purpose, of minimizing human losses and coordinating the agencies of the state.
However, we find that some moves are being made on the part of Turkey now, which show that the exercise that was done then and the whole design of dealing with earthquakes by the Turkish state is insufficient.
We know that by design, local military units are deployed to deal with earthquakes in their area of responsibility and not moved from them, since of course serious military forces are based in earthquake-affected areas, especially those that are far away.
Specifically, in the area of the earthquakes, the 2nd Army is based in MALATYA, which has a multitude of formations, personnel and means, assisted by police forces, military gendarmerie, fire brigade, civil protection, volunteer rescuers, health personnel.
In addition to these at a relative distance is the headquarters of the 3rd Army in ERZINSAN, with similar forces and means to those we mentioned above for the 2nd Army.
However, the Turks decided to transfer personnel from the occupied Cyprus to the affected areas, which of course is not foreseen by any proper planning and shows great sloppiness, but also signs of panic, suggesting that despite what the Turks project in the media, there is no coordination of actions that should.
For example, saying hypothetically, if the occupied Cyprus faces a problem with an earthquake, what will happen, who will intervene immediately, when forces have left the island?
Our 14th Armored Brigade Command personnel stationed in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus came to Mersina to support search and rescue efforts. The Mehmetchiks move to the earthquake zone"
?MSB:
— M5 Dergi (@M5Dergi) February 7, 2023
"Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti’nde konuşlu bulunan 14’üncü Zırhlı Tugay Komutanlığımız personeli, arama-kurtarma çalışmalarına destek için Mersin’e geldi. Mehmetçikler, deprem bölgesine intikal ediyor." pic.twitter.com/DJ7l6Cp78T
There is also an attempt by naval forces from both Turkey and abroad to rush for help in the area of Alexandretta that was severely affected by the earthquakes.
Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto ordered the San Marco LPD to be sent to Turkey.
Landing ships TCG SANCAKTAR and TCG BAYRAKTAR are carrying construction machinery, generators, search and rescue equipment, food, clothing, protective and health supplies required in the earthquake zone.
?TCG SANCAKTAR ve TCG BAYRAKTAR çıkarma gemileri, deprem bölgesinde ihtiyaç duyulan iş makinesi, jeneratör, arama- kurtarma teçhizatı, gıda, giyim, koruyucu ve sağlık malzemelerini intikal ettiriyor. pic.twitter.com/MeaTcswQ2i
— M5 Dergi (@M5Dergi) February 7, 2023
Turks are angry with the government
"It turns out that the first night of the double Kahramanmaraş earthquake in Turkey on February 6 was very difficult for the earthquake victims who did not receive any or insufficient help to cope with this situation," Turkish media points out in an article, which points out among other things .
"Aid cannot reach most of the Hatay province bordering Syria, where the death toll from the earthquakes is said to be approaching a thousand.
The airport in Hatay was destroyed by the earthquake.
It was built in 2007 by the YDA Group, one of the AKP's favorite contractors, despite criticism that it should not be built on swampy land.
In İskenderun, Hatay's industrial city, the public state hospital has also been demolished.
In Antakya, the provincial capital, the AFAD building itself collapsed.
In Adıyaman, the municipality building and the Telecom building collapsed.
AFAD with proven success in many disaster areas of the world is clearly not enough to get the job done alone in such a large-scale disaster."
