Saudi Search and Rescue Team Returns from Türkiye

People take belongings out of their destroyed apartment in the aftermath of the deadly earthquake in Antakya, Hatay province, Turkey, February 20, 2023. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopezh
People take belongings out of their destroyed apartment in the aftermath of the deadly earthquake in Antakya, Hatay province, Turkey, February 20, 2023. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopezh
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Saudi Search and Rescue Team Returns from Türkiye

People take belongings out of their destroyed apartment in the aftermath of the deadly earthquake in Antakya, Hatay province, Turkey, February 20, 2023. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopezh
People take belongings out of their destroyed apartment in the aftermath of the deadly earthquake in Antakya, Hatay province, Turkey, February 20, 2023. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopezh

The General Directorate of Civil Defense's Saudi Search and Rescue Team has returned home after completing its tasks and relief mission following the devastating earthquake in Türkiye.

The mission was carried out under the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince to assist earthquake victims, in coordination with the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), and with the follow-up of the Interior Minister.

The Saudi team's mission had begun with meetings and coordination with the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG), local authorities, and the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) to determine the locations where the team would conduct search and rescue operations, provide medical and humanitarian aid, in addition to equipping the assessment team with the camp headquarters and providing support and logistic services throughout its mission in Türkiye.

The Saudi team used state-of-the-art equipment and technology to conduct round-the-clock rescue operations and search for survivors in 47 sites across the three Turkish cities of Gaziantep, Antakya, and Kahramanmaras.

The KSrelief team remains in Syria and Türkiye, helping earthquake victims and monitoring the implementation of relief projects and programs in both countries.



Saudi Defense Minister, UAE President Discuss Regional Developments

Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz met in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday with United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. SPA
Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz met in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday with United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. SPA
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Saudi Defense Minister, UAE President Discuss Regional Developments

Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz met in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday with United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. SPA
Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz met in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday with United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. SPA

Upon directives from the Saudi leadership, Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz met in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday with United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Prince Khalid conveyed the greetings of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and their wishes of continued progress and prosperity for the UAE.

The UAE president thanked the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince, and, in turn, conveyed his greetings to them.

The meeting focused on the relations between the two countries and on developments in the region and the world.

UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and President of the Presidential Court Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and several other high-ranking officials attended the meeting.