Turkish President awards Georgian rescuers involved in earthquake relief efforts
The Ministry of Internal Affairs said Erdoğan presented the award and a certificate of appreciation to Sepiashvili and other leaders of rescue teams in the occasion hosted by the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Agency in Ankara. Photo: MIA of Georgia
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Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the President of Turkey, on Tuesday awarded rescuers, including Georgian professionals, who helped in the aftermath of the earthquake in the cities of Adiyaman and Antakya in February, in a move recognising their assistance.
Erdoğan bestowed the Award for Highest Dedication to leaders representing rescue crews from each country that sent teams to help in rescue operations following the 7.8-magnitude earthquake, with Mamuka Sepiashvili, a Civil Safety Colonel at the Emergency Situations Management Service of Georgia, representing the Georgian professionals.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs said Erdoğan presented the award and a certificate of appreciation to Sepiashvili and other leaders of rescue teams in the occasion hosted by the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Agency in Ankara.
The President also personally thanked the rescuers for their “support and commitment” in the relief operations.
President of ????????, @RTErdogan, awarded Georgian rescuers participating in the rescue operation of the earthquake that occurred in Turkish cities of Adiyaman and Antakya.https://t.co/OJAnuehwyOhttps://t.co/Zpq45uQlzT pic.twitter.com/LbU2BGNFce
— MIA of Georgia (@MIAofGeorgia) April 26, 2023
Süleyman Soylu, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Turkey, also thanked his Georgian counterpart Vakhtang Gomelauri for the help and support provided by the country, noting the lives saved as a result of the “selfless work” of the Georgian professionals.
Photo: MIA of Georgia
Rescuers from Georgia were sent to affected locations in Turkey starting the first day of the earthquake, following a decision by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili.
A total of 200 professionals used hardware and rescue dogs in relief operations in two cities for 18 days to help deal with the aftermath of the disaster that killed more than 50,783 people in Turkey.