Defense Minister, Ehud Barak, ordered the Israeli defense system to send a
special aid delegation to Turkey in response to the recent earthquake, on
Tuesday (October 25) after the offer was accepted by the Turkish
authorities.
The assistance will focus on temporary buildings necessary for the
rehabilitation of people rescued and evacuated at disaster sites in Turkey, as
well as essential field hospital structures. Israeli Air Force aircraft are
currently preparing to transfer these buildings.
A prefabricated home sent by Israel is loaded off an Israeli cargo plane at Ankara airport
before being transported to the earthquake zone, Oct 27, 2011 (Photo: Reuters)
The Turkish request was transferred via the Israeli Consul stationed in
Ankara.
Two days ago Defense Minister Barak already spoke to Maj. Gen. Amos Gilad,
Director of Policy and Political-Military Affairs of the Israeli Defense
Ministry, offering Turkish authorities any assistance needed in dealing with the
earthquake that took place in eastern Turkey. In response, the Chief of the
General Staff, Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz instructed the IDF to prepare for the
possibility of a search and rescue aid delegation sent to Turkey. The Home Font
Command prepared the relevant forces.
Minister for Home Front Defense, Matan Vilani, offered Turkey assistance. The
Minister spoke with the Home Front Command Chief, Maj. Gen, Eyal Eizenberg
regarding IDF preparations for the an aid delegation sent to the area.
Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu spoke with his Turkish counterpart
expressing his condolences for the deaths and damage caused by the earthquake.
Israeli
President, Shimon Peres, spoke with Abdullah Gul, his Turkish counterpart,
expressing his condolences and offering assistance from Israel.