STORY: Türkiye's rescue teams start mission in Libya, new aid supplies shipped out
DATELINE: Sept 16, 2023
LENGTH: 00:1:03
LOCATION: ISTANBUL, Türkiye
CATEGORY: OTHERS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Turkish search and rescue and medical teams starting to work in the flooded region of Libya (courtesy of Ihlas news agency)
2. various of Military ships carrying aid supplies from Türkiye to Libya (courtesy of Ihlas news agency)

STORYLINE:

Rescue teams sent by Türkiye have joined Libya in its search and rescue efforts while new aid supplies have been shipped out from the Turkish western port city of Izmir, Türkiye's local media reported Friday.

"Türkiye's helping hand has reached Libya," the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) said in a post on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

"We stand by our Libyan brothers and sisters in the disaster zone where one of the biggest floods of history occurred," read the post.

In addition to the three relief planes that departed on Tuesday, three military ships left Izmir on Thursday night, carrying 550 personnel and 4,000 tonnes of aid material, the state-run TRT broadcaster reported.

Speaking to reporters at the Alsancak Port in Izmir, Okay Memis, head of the AFAD, said the supplies in the ships include vehicles, boats, tents, blankets, food parcels, and hygiene kits, among others.

The storm-induced floods, the largest and worst in decades, have claimed at least 5,500 lives and left another 10,000 missing in eastern Libya, Osama Ali, spokesman of the Emergency Department of Libya's Ministry of Health, told Xinhua Wednesday.

The World Health Organization estimates the disaster has affected 1.5-1.8 million people in the country.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Istanbul, Türkiye.
(XHTV)