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| Members of the second dispatch of the Korea Disaster Relief Team (KDRT) sent to support recovery efforts in Turkey pose before their departure to the earthquake-damaged country, Thursday. Courtesy of KOICA |
By Kang Seung-woo
The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) has sent another dispatch of the Korea Disaster Relief Team (KDRT) to support the response to the earthquake in Turkey.
The Korean government confirmed, Wednesday, through a public-private joint council for overseas emergency relief chaired by Foreign Minister Park Jin, that a second dispatch of emergency relief personnel and supplies has been sent to support post-earthquake relief and recovery efforts in Turkey.
The second KDRT dispatch consists of 21 members, including two officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 10 medical workers from the National Medical Center, the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare and the Ministry of National Defense, five officials from KOICA and four more from civilian emergency relief organizations. The team left for Turkey, Thursday.
The emergency relief team will consult with Turkish officials on necessary relief activities for victims and future reconstruction activities, and assess the current situation.
KOICA, Korea's representative development cooperation agency which carries out grant projects in developing countries, serves as the KDRT secretariat. The dispatched KOICA staff have been professionally trained in emergency relief missions as KDRT members. They will provide support for on-site activities and coordinate with the government of Turkey and international relief teams.
The Korean government previously sent a preliminary team of three members, including one KOICA staffer, and the first dispatch of 118 KDRT members, including six KOICA staffers, to Turkey on Feb. 8. The first KDRT dispatch has been carrying out relief activities in Antakya, Hatay Province, since Feb. 9, rescuing a total of eight survivors.
KOICA conducts KDRT joint simulation training annually, aligning the strong inter-organizational cooperative system and strengthening readiness.
"KOICA will actively cooperate with relevant government ministries and the private sector to support recovery from earthquake damage in Turkey," KOICA Vice President Hong Seok-hwa said.
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