Sinar reporter joins earthquake relief mission in Turkey, Syria

SHAH ALAM - The first Syria-Turkey Emergency Mission team has left to earthquake hit areas Monday night to aid victims with shelter, medical assistance and food.

Syria Care General Manager Muaz Abd Muein said the 16-day mission was accompanied by 11 individuals consisting of three Syria Care representatives, a Sinar Harian reporter and seven Emergency Medical Assistance Organisation members including doctors, assistant medical officers, trained nurses, paramedics.

He said the group will take along 200 kgs of items and medicine to be given to victims on the affected locations.

"We have four main objectives and the mission now is to prepare shelter for victims who have lost their homes. Our team had mobilised for shelter since the second day.

"The aid we received will be used for repairing homes that are salvageable and our team has prepared ready-to-eat meals for victims in the temporary shelters.

"The team will provide medicine, medical assistance as well as paramedics. They have the expertise to search for missing individuals," he said to Sinar.

Muaz explained they will head towards Gaziantep dan Hatay in Turkey while the Syrian group will go to Jenderes, Al Bab North of Aleppo, Betia Village, West Idlib, Aqrabat and Al-Zouf, Western suburbs of Idlib.

He said the 10 days would be allocated towards Syria as a majority of the aid channeled to the country was lacking compared to Turkey.

Sinar Harian reporter Nurul Riduan Nor Ashaha will join the humanitarian aid mission.

"This mission is challenging for me as I will witness the destruction of the earthquake firsthand. I will not only report on the relief mission but I will see the fate and impact of the incident on individuals," Riduan added.