Swiss rescue workers have arrived in Turkey as part of international efforts to assist victims of two earthquakes that have killed more than 5,000 people in Turkey and Syria.
Overnight, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation dispatched an 80-strong team from the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit, army personnel and eight rescue dogs.
A first Swiss team of experts has been working to find victims trapped in the rubble according to a senior Swiss army official.
Alessio Marazza told the Keystone-SDA news agency that there is still a good chance of rescuing people trapped in the debris.
“When it is cold, you don’t get dehydrated as much and you live longer under the rubble than in the summer,” Marazza said. According to him, it is even possible to survive for three to four days. A total of 29 Swiss army personnel are engaged in Turkey.
Switzerland is also preparing follow-up aid shipments that will be sent when the situation has been assessed.
A 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck southern Turkey and northwest Syria early on Monday, followed by another 7.5 magnitude quake.
The death toll has mounted to nearly 4,000 in Turkey and at least 1,500 people in Syria with many more injured or left without shelter in wintry conditions.
Other Swiss humanitarian aid agencies are also active in the region, including the rescue dog service Redog that sent ten experts and six dogs to Turkey on a Rega air rescue jet.
The charity Caritas said it has mobilised its nine staff already in Syria to assist the rescue efforts. The agency said it would also dispatch humanitarian aid and financial assistance.
Donations
Swiss Solidarity, the humanitarian arm of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation – swissinfo.ch’s parent company -, has launched an appeal for donations to support victims of the earthquakes.
About CHF2.7 million ($2.9 million) have been pledged by several Swiss charities and other donors so far.
Swisscom receives greenlight for acquisition of Vodafone Italia
This content was published on
The takeover of Vodafone Italia by Swisscom is nearing completion. All relevant authorities have now approved the €8 billion (CHF7.45 billion) deal.
Novo Nordisk stock market plunge drags down Swiss device maker Ypsomed
This content was published on
The Danish pharmaceutical giant, Novo Nordisk, faced setbacks on Friday that weighed on the share price of Swiss injection device manufacturer Ypsomed.
Swiss press react to EU deal with mix of euphoria and scepticism
This content was published on
Swiss media reaction to the agreement between Switzerland and the EU varies widely. Some are celebrating, while others worry about what is to come.
Swiss Solidarity donations to tackle child abuse top CHF4 million
This content was published on
Swiss Solidarity, the humanitarian arm of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC), has raised over CHF4 million ($4.3 million) to tackle child abuse.
EU Commission president says Swiss-EU deal is ‘historic’ agreement
This content was published on
At a joint media conference with Swiss President Viola Amherd in Bern, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke of a "day of joy".
Switzerland and EU reach deal on future bilateral relations
This content was published on
Switzerland and the European Union have announced a political agreement to update their trading relationship after almost a decade of difficult talks.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Switzerland offers support to Syria and Turkey after major quake
This content was published on
Switzerland has offered support to Syria and Turkey after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck southern Turkey and northwest Syria early on Monday.
Swiss humanitarian aid unit: rapid response experts for crisis zones
This content was published on
Whether it is water specialists or mediators, Switzerland has some 700 experts who can be deployed in humanitarian crises all over the world.
This content was published on
The drones will be equipped with night vision and thermal cameras to spot people in distress. The dog handlers and dogs will then be directed to the spot to rescue those in need. “We have already tested the dog-drone combination during our last three operations and we are now ready,” Romaine Kuonen, president of Redog,…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.