US forces provide medical aid to earthquake victims in Turkey

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Army, air force and navy personnel are responding to requests for help from the Turkish government after Monday’s 7.8 earthquake devastated parts of that country and neighboring Syria. The death toll has now exceeded 22,000.

The United States began mobilizing a response to the earthquake on Tuesday, according to a statement from the US European Command on Friday.

“From search and rescue to medical and humanitarian assistance, our command is working with other U.S. government agencies to provide the assistance that the Government of Turkey has requested in the aftermath of this natural disaster,” Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli, commander of EUCOM, said in a statement Friday. “Compassion and determination are the driving force behind every American military and civilian personnel helping Turkey through these difficult days.”

Army helicopters are transporting medical staff from the US International Aid Agency to the most affected areas in Turkey, according to the statement, and transporting the wounded to a medical facility.

Turkey’s Incirlik Air Base is the main hub for the relief, where pilots help Turkish forces offload international aid, receiving more than 1,300 aircraft since the effort began.

The George Bush Carrier Strike Group moved into the eastern Mediterranean on Tuesday, according to the release.

People mourn on Friday as they bury their loved ones who were victims of Monday’s earthquake in the southeastern city of Adiyaman. Emergency teams carried out a series of dramatic rescues on Friday, pulling many people, some almost unharmed, from the rubble, four days after the catastrophic earthquake that killed more than 22,000 people. (Emrah Gurel/AP)

The Treasury Department announced Thursday that it has granted a six-month license to provide humanitarian aid to Syria, an alternative solution to sanctions that prevent doing business with Syria.

“As international allies and humanitarian partners gather to help those affected, I want to make it absolutely clear that U.S. sanctions in Syria will not stand in the way of efforts to save the lives of the Syrian people,” Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyou said in a statement. .

Megan Myers is the Pentagon bureau chief at Military Times. They cover operations, policy, personnel, leadership and other issues affecting service members.

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