Turkish ambassador calls relief effort a 'test of humanity'

Diplomacy

Published: 13 Feb. 2023, 20:11 Updated: 14 Feb. 2023, 18:15

Turkish ambassador calls relief effort a 'test of humanity'

Turkish Ambassador to Korea Murat Tamer sits for an interview with the Korea JoongAng Daily at his embassy in central Seoul Monday. [KIM MYEONG-JI]

Turkish Ambassador to Seoul Murat Tamer described the devastating earthquake which struck Turkey one week ago as a "test of humanity" and thanked the Korean government and people for doing its part to support his country from "Day One."

"We are deeply touched by this," said Tamer as he sat for an interview with the Korea JoongAng Daily at his embassy in central Seoul on Monday. "From the top of the government, from President Yoon Suk Yeol to the ordinary Koreans walking on the street, we felt like their hearts are beating for us, and with us."

Last Tuesday, the Korean government immediately dispatched the 118-member Korea Disaster Relief Team (KDRT) on a military transport aircraft to Turkey, the largest number of rescue personnel sent in a single day from Korea, and promised an initial $5 million in emergency humanitarian assistance.

On Monday, President Yoon further instructed the government to secure as many relief supplies as possible for Turkey in a meeting with his aides. This included providing tents, medicine and medical supplies and electric equipment, and in the longer run helping with reconstruction efforts.

The death toll from the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck southern Turkey and northern Syria on Feb. 6 stood at over 34,000 on Monday. The figure is likely to climb.

"The devastation is that of about 132 nuclear bombs," said Tamer. "The area that got affected is bigger than South Korea. It affected 13.5 million people in 10 provinces, an area which is larger than many, many countries."

The area impacted by the earthquake is 108,812 square kilometers, impacting 10 provinces in Turkey, which is larger than South Korea's total area of 99.909 square kilometers, according the embassy. Around 30,000 people lost their lives in Turkey, more than 90,000 people were wounded and 10,000 houses were totally demolished.

"It was 4:00 a.m. in the morning, so many people were in bed," said Tamer. "They came out without socks, in their pajamas, in very cold weather."

Tamer said his family was safe, but one of his colleagues, also an ambassador, is still missing. He said many people remain under the rubbles.

"It's a very big devastation," said Tamer. "It's a huge earthquake. And no country can deal with this magnitude of natural disaster by itself. It is the test of humanity."

He said he appreciated that President Yoon immediately gave the necessary instructions to the Cabinet to help the Turkish people, and that the Korea government and people offered their help right away.

Tamer said from day one, the Turkish embassy was inundated with telephone calls and emails from Koreans who wanted to donate and "wanted to give a hand to their Turkish brothers and sisters, which is very much meaningful."

"On the second day, the Korean government sent the search and rescue team to Turkey, which consisted of about 120 search and rescue workers. And they are doing a fantastic job."

He said he is in communication with the team around the clock.

The ambassador took part in the departure ceremony of the KDRT at Incheon International Airport on Feb. 7.

He said he told the rescue personnel: "The first thing is your own safety. Please come back safe. I want to greet all of you safe and sound when you come back to Incheon Airport."

"I also told them that in our culture, saving one life is like saving humanity," said Tamer. "So they saved many, many lives. We are so grateful to them."

The Korean relief workers rescued eight people from the rubble in Turkey over the past week, including a two-year-old girl and her father.

Tamer praised Koreans for their "discipline, dedication and work ethics" saying the rescue workers "have been doing a fantastic job."

He also said he is ready to be reached for "anything they need," in cooperation with the Korean ambassador to Ankara, whom he called "my good friend" and a "brother working for the same cause."

Even one week into the ongoing international rescue efforts, "we always wait for miracles," he said.

"The book for this kind of search and rescue operation has also been rewritten," said Tamer. "After 72 hours, there are very slim chances to save people, but now we've reach the 173rd hour, and we're still saving people."

But he said there will be a long recovery process after the search and rescue period ends, including cleaning out the damaged area, then rebuilding.

"We have to build houses, hospitals, government buildings, mosques and churches, schools, everything," said Tamer, "Because most of the cities are not livable anymore, they have to be demolished and then rebuilt. That will need a considerable amount of funding. And also, in between, we have to put people in shelters, give them food, give them medicine, give them something to wear, and temporary schools, temporary clinics, hospitals. So there's a huge task in front of us."

The most urgently needed emergency relief supplies are winter tents, heat generators, blankets and sleeping bags, said Tamer. He said he'd also relayed to Korean officials that other supplies include diapers for babies, sanitary napkins, public toilets, public showers, winter boots and clothing.

The presidential office said Monday the Korean government will send 150 tents and 2,200 blankets to Turkey through military aircraft on Thursday, along with a second team of relief worker, including 372 medical staffers.

Tamer said he is "so grateful to the Korean government," businesspeople and ordinary Korean people for paying condolences and for sending donations in money and relief supplies.

Yoon paid condolences at the embassy last Thursday.

"He's such a kind person," said Tamer referring to Yoon. "When you look at his eyes, I know he was in sorrow; he was deeply touched. He said, 'Please pass my condolences to Turkish people and to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and we are here for you. Please let us know what we can do for our Turkish brothers."

Tamer stressed that Korea and Turkey were "not just brothers, but blood brothers," recalling the deep diplomatic relationship stemming from Turkey's sending of troops to help the South during the 1950-53 Korean War.

"In 1950, we came to the help our Korean brothers and sisters during a difficult time for their freedom, democracy and for their lives," said Tamer. "And about 1,000 Turkish soldiers, my countrymen, they lost their lives for their Korean brothers and sisters. And 442 of them are now sleeping in Busan."

Tamer said in the four months since he was dispatched as Turkey's ambassador to Korea, he quickly learned that this brotherly bond was not just talk, especially in light of the recent disaster.

"Seeing how the Korean people were racing to help their Turks brothers, I found out this is not lip service," said Tamer. "It is true, coming from the heart. And when I look back, I said that it is difficult to say this, but thank God. We are so proud that 1,000 of my countrymen lost their lives, for the sake, for the good of this noble people, the Korean people."

The Turkish government will also find who is culpable for construction work that failed to meet existing earthquake codes.

"Earthquakes don't kill people," said Tamer. "Buildings kill people."

"Greed is a bad disease. We have good codes to build buildings," he said. "But if you don't follow those codes or enforce those codes, wrongdoers always appear. After we clean this rubble and everything, there will be criminal charges against those people who didn't follow the technical guidelines."

He also warned of scammers who are trying to "make money out of people's good feelings during this difficult time."

Tamer urged those wishing to donate money or goods to check the Turkish Embassy's official websites, Facebook page, or Twitter account.

"We are very grateful, thankful, and their donations are highly appreciated," said Tamer. "For us, one won is the same as 1 million won, as long as it's coming from the heart. And we know that it's coming from the heart of the Korean brothers."

Tamer said those who wish to make donations can do so directly to the Turkish Embassy's bank account or through well-established international organizations such as the Red Cross.

"Otherwise, that money will never reach those people in Turkey," he said.

"No country can handle this alone," added Tamer. "So far the international community is passing this test of humanity in a very positive way."