Emergency Aid for the Relief of the Earthquake Disaster in the Western Part of the Republic of Turkey
(Dispatch of a second medical team)

August 26, 1999

On August 26 (Thu), the Government of Japan decided to dispatch a medical team comprising 15 persons (one official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, two medical doctors, six nurses, three medical coordinators, and three for duty operations), for about two weeks from August 27 (Fri) to the Republic of Turkey, which has been struck by a major earthquake. While the first team (16 members, activities will continue until August 30) that left on August 18 was dispatched to conduct the emergency medical treatment that was needed right after the disaster, the second will be for pediatric and internal medical treatment which is now required with the passage of time.
The magnitude of the disaster from the earthquake that hit Turkey on August 17 (Tue) continues to expand as time goes by; the emergency local authorities announced that as of August 25 more than 12,500 people were dead and more than 27,000 injured, and the Turkish Government asked for continued medical aid from the Japanese Government.
Considering the severity of the disaster and the increase in the number of people affected, Japan has decided to extend emergency assistance by dispatching this second medical team from a humanitarian viewpoint.

Their schedule is as follows:

Schedule
August 27 (Fri)
06:30-07:00	Assemble in Conference Room Sirius, 6th floor, New Haneda Airport Terminal (Big Bird)
07:45	Leave Tokyo International Airport (Haneda) by JL113
09:00	Arrive Kansai International Airport
12:35	Leave Kansai International Airport by JL439 (TK)
20:00 (local time)	Arrive Istanbul

(END)