Following their deployment following the catastrophic earthquake in the Turkish-Syrian border region, members of the Austrian Forces Disaster Relief Unit (AFDRU) were welcomed and honored on Monday at the main square in Korneuburg. Statements from three selected helpers gave insight into the demanding work in the earthquake zone, with the Turkish community also showing great interest.
Lieutenant Colonel Markus Bock said that after Monday’s quake two weeks ago – when he was still at home – it quickly became clear to him that an AFDRU operation would be necessary. On site, the “destruction was, of course, appalling”. “The surviving population is suffering. It’s bitterly cold, especially at night.” When searching for people, images came up “that shape you and change life somewhere”.
“Extreme Destruction and Suffering”
For Sergeant Daniel Degenhart, the arrival in the earthquake zone was the worst moment of the entire mission. It soon became clear “how extreme the devastation and suffering on the ground” was. In stark contrast was the most beautiful moment of the mission. For Degenhart, that was the moment when a family of five, including two children, was rescued after ten hours of work on the second day of action. Dog handler Joachim Brandlhofer added that an emergency such as the operation in the earthquake zone “cannot be simulated even after years of training”.
Last Thursday, 71 of the deployed helpers landed at Vienna Airport in Schwechat and were received, among others, by Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner (ÖVP). On (today) Monday, the lap of honor continued in Korneuburg, which is actually the headquarters of the unit. Responsibility for setting up and forming AFDRU lies with the command of the NBC defense center in the district town of Weinviertel.
Tanner: ‘Helpers had to cross the border’
Tanner (ÖVP) again expressed “great respect” to everyone involved in her speech. The helpers would look back on “incredibly demanding days” and a mentally and physically “tough mission”. “We can be sure that there were times for them when they had to push their limits.”
The Turkish ambassador, Ozan Ceyhun, described the helpers as “Hatay’s heroes”. From Turkey’s point of view, they are now very good friends, as close as relatives, “because they relieved our suffering on difficult days”. On February 7, a total of 83 aid workers were sent to the disaster area. During the ten-day operation, nine people were rescued and 52 injured people received medical treatment. Nearly 47,000 deaths have been reported so far in the affected area in Turkey and neighboring Syria.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
