(VOVWORLD) -76 military personnel and 24 police officers and medical workers have been assigned the task of providing rescue assistance to Turkey.
 Leaders of the Army Corps of Engineers assign task for soldiers before going on a rescue mission in Turkey. Photo:Vietnam Defense TV
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At Friday meeting, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army and Deputy Minister of National Defense said that modern equipment has been mobilized, including detectors, concrete cutting and drilling machines, emergency resuscitation equipment, medicine, field tents, and personal military protective gears to cope with the cold weather from -5 to -10 degrees Celsius.
The Ministry of Defense will deliver the Turkish people 10 tons of dry rations. Cuong described sending forces to assist quake-hit Turkey as crucial and affirming the Vietnamese Government’s responsibility for international humanitarian aid and rescue.
On Thursday, 24 Vietnamese police officers and medical workers flew to Turkey to help search for victims. All the personnel are veteran rescuers with over 10 years of experience.
General To An Xo, spokesman for the Ministry of Public Security, said this is the first time the Ministry has sent rescuers on an international mission so far from Vietnam.
Minister To Lam said the Ministry’s participation in the search and rescue effort reflects Vietnam’s commitment to be a responsible member of the international community. “The Vietnamese police officers and medical workers will spare no effort and work closely with other forces to fulfill the mission there,” he said.
More than 21,000 people have been killed and tens of thousands injured after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Turkey and Syria on Monday.