Belgium's Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden stated on Tuesday that Turkey has asked Belgium for search and rescue teams, but has not yet asked to send a medical help team after Monday's earthquakes. "Turkey is currently asking to send search and rescue teams first."
Appearing on Radio 1's De Ochtend show, Verlinden confirmed that Belgium wanted to send an 80-person strong B-FAST post-earthquake relief team to Turkey, which was struck by tremors that have taken the lives of over 4,800 people.
"When such a disaster occurs, our emergency assistance has to be coordinated to be as efficient as possible," Verlinden explained, "which is always conducted at the country's request."
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However, Belgian help has been slow to get off the ground, according to the minister, due to a difference of opinions between Belgium and Turkey. The latter has asked foreign states to send search and rescue teams first, while the Belgian state chose in 2019 to always prioritise sending medical teams. As a result, "we are waiting for further instructions from Turkey."
Verlinden also revealed that Belgium would not hesitate in assisting Syria, which was also struck by Monday's earthquakes. "Any political discussion should be put aside to help as many people as possible," she stated, "as an international community, we should do everything we can to get that help on the ground."
