The Indonesian Humanitarian Team, comprising personnel from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) and the emergency medical team (EMT), is preparing to activate medical services for residents affected by the 7.8-magnitude earthquake in Hatay, Turkey.

The EMT team, consisting of 119 joint personnel, conducted a site survey and unloaded equipment and tools required to set up a field hospital tent in Hassa, Hatay Province.

Head of the Indonesian Humanitarian Team Bambang Surya Putra noted that water and electricity supplies were required for the establishment of this medical facility, so the team had sought recommendations from the Turkish disaster mitigation agency, or AFAD, beforehand.

“The location for the hospital tent is based on AFAD and the local government’s recommendation,” Putra noted in a written statement received here, Wednesday.

The team was accompanied by Indonesian Ambassador to Turkey, Lalu Muhammad Iqbal, during the preparations that took place on Tuesday.

The division of personnel has been carried out in accordance with the expertise of EMT personnel. Field hospitals will also be supported by mobile services to reach sick residents, Putra noted.

The qualification of this type 2 EMT Team is under the Ministry of Health’s Crisis Center and supported by specialist doctors, general practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, and public kitchen workers. EMTs are also supported by equipment, supplies, and medicines, he remarked.

“The EMT is supported by personnel from various organizations or institutions, such as the Health Ministry, Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI), National Police (Polri), the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), Muhammadiyah Disaster Management Center (MDMC), Dompet Dhuafa, and Association of Indonesian Epidemiologists (PAEI),” Putra remarked.

In addition, the EMT team comprises doctors from various professional associations or associations in Indonesia, such as the Indonesian Doctors’ Association (IDI), the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI), the Indonesian Association of Surgeons (PABI), the Association of Indonesian Orthopedic Surgeons ( PABOI), and Indonesian Association of Anesthesiology and Intensive Therapy Specialists (Perdatin), he stated.

“There are also doctors from the Association of Indonesian Emergency Doctors (Perdamsi), Indonesian Association of Obstetrics and Gynecology (POGI), Association of Indonesian Psychiatrists (PDSKJI), Indonesian Association of Orthopedic and Trauma Nurses (IPOTI), Indonesian Association of Emergency and Disaster Nurses (Hipgabi), Indonesian Pharmacist Association (IAI), Association of Nutritionists, and Indonesian Midwives Association (IBI). They are all health reserve workers (TCK) of the Ministry of Health,” Putra remarked.

Meanwhile, the BNPB team will support the management of prepared resources under the command center for all human resources mobilized in Turkey.

“This support includes facilitating air transportation for logistics and land transportation for personnel,” he said.

He revealed that the BNPB team also helped to coordinate with local authorities and supported the handling policy between the embassy and AFAD and the Hatay local government.

The EMT team arrived at the Adana Sakirpasa Airport on February 13 at 22:00 local time. Ambassador Iqbal along with the Defense Attaché of the Indonesian Embassy and the Head of the Humanitarian Team welcomed the EMT group at the airport.

At the arrival hall, representatives of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the team and expressed gratitude for the Indonesian government’s assistance to the Turkish people.

Before heading to Hassa on Wednesday, the EMT personnel received an explanation from the Indonesian ambassador to obtain the latest information on emergency management in the region.

The EMT personnel are part of the Indonesian Humanitarian Team sent along with the Medium Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team.

Source: Antara News