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.
Swiss price watchdog slams excessive prices for generic medicines
This content was published on
The cheapest generic medicines available in Switzerland are more than twice as expensive as in other countries, according to a study by the Swiss price watchdog.
Nature should not figure in net zero calculations: academic study
This content was published on
The natural removal of CO2 from the atmosphere by forests or oceans should not be included in the net-zero balance of climate protection measures, argue researchers.
This content was published on
None of the 15 major Swiss retail banks is meeting international climate and biodiversity targets, according to a ranking by WWF Switzerland.
This content was published on
Nestlé's new CEO Laurent Freixe, has presented plans for the future of the world's largest food company, after his first few weeks in office.
Swiss foreign minister calls on Moscow to end Ukraine war
This content was published on
It's high time Moscow ended its war against Ukraine, Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis tells the UN Security Council.
This content was published on
The only alternative to the UN Palestinian agency’s work in Gaza is to allow Israel to run services there, Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, told reporters in Geneva on Monday.
Study reveals food culture differences between Switzerland and neighbours
This content was published on
Three-quarters of Swiss people consider eating to be a pleasurable, social activity, a new survey reveals. Healthy eating, however, plays a much less important role, it found.
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.