AFTER over two weeks at ground zero of collapsed buildings in quake-hit Turkey, the 82-member humanitarian contingent has finally come home Tuesday.

All the members of the Philippine Inter-agency Humanitarian Contingent arrived unscathed.

However, many would still probably have to deal with the trauma of non-stop aftershocks and the frustration of being unable to rescue survivors amidst a bitter winter in the southeast province of Adiyaman.

Turkish gratitude

“We want to thank you from our hearts. So beautifully, you guys came here without any obligation. Nobody pushed you guys to come here.

“You are our heroes in our hearts,” an official of the Turkish Foreign Ministry told the contingent before their flight back to Manila.

Defense officer in charge and Senior Undersecretary Carlito Gavez Jr., and Turkish Ambassador to Manila Niyazi Akyol led the welcoming party at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3. 

Ambassador Akyol thanked the contingent and the Philippine government for the help extended to the search and retrieval efforts.

“They have gone through a lot. They have been to a very difficult place. They have been witnesses to great human suffering, so it was not easy but they worked tirelessly and they represented the Philippines in a very exemplary manner. They have saved lives, they brought hope to many people. So we are deeply grateful for the contribution of the Philippines,” the Turkish ambassador said.

Philippine contingent

Three days after the Magnitude 7.8-quake struck southern Turkey and northern Syria, the Philippines immediately deployed a humanitarian contingent to help in the search, rescue and recovery efforts.

As of the latest official count, around 50,288 people have died in Turkey and Syria. About 13.5 million people were affected in Turkey, and 8.8 million were homeless in Syria. 

The Philippines joined 88 other rescue teams from around the world in response to the call of the United Nations to help Turkey.

The Philippine humanitarian contingent was composed of the following:

1. 30 members Philippine Emergency Medical Assistance Team (PEMAT) from the Department of Health
2. 50 members Urban Search and Rescue Team (USAR)
   1. Philippine Air Force (505th Search and Rescue Group)
   2. Philippine Army (525th Engineer Combat Battalion)
   3. Metro Manila Development Authority
   4. Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority. 
3. Two staff members for administrative and logistical support.

During their 19 days in Turkey, the USAR triaged 36 collapsed buildings. The highest number of buildings assessed were during their first two days – February 10 and 11.

Using a life detector equipment, the team was able to detect at least seven people who were possibly alive in the trapped buildings.

Dr. Ted Esguerra, a member of the MMDA contingent, said they were able to speak with one Turkish man under the rubble and they tried so hard to rescue him. But due to hypothermia, the man died.

On February 13 and 14, the team retrieved the bodies of six individuals. 

Meanwhile, medical experts from DOH served 1,022 injured patients at a makeshift hospital at Adiyaman Otagon Bus Station.

On February 25, the team was ordered to pack up and leave Turkey.

Profound thank you’s

Dr. Esguerra said they were also showered with expressions of gratitude by the Turkish government while in Turkey. The Turkish Airline upgraded them to first class, treated them at the airport lounge and gave a standing ovation upon exit. The pilot of flight TK264 mentioned them on board en route back to Manila. 

The team also encountered singer Ogie Alcasid at Istanbul international airport and he expressed thanks for their help.

The other members of the welcoming party in NAIA Tuesday night were:

• USec Jesus Domingo of the DFA; 
• USec Nestor Santiago of DOH; 
• USec Ariel F Nepomuceno of OCD; 
• CSAFP, General Andres Centino; 
• ASec Raffy Alejandro of OCD; 
• MMDA Chairman Romando Artes