AFAD, has increased more than 10 times in the last 3 years, reaching 160 thousand 13 people

Türkiye's trained national search and rescue capacity, created with public institutions and non-governmental organizations under the coordination of AFAD, has increased more than 10 times in the last 3 years, reaching 160 thousand 13 people. The number of 15 thousand 250 in 2023 exceeded the Search and Rescue Team Project target of 100 thousand people. The number of applied training tracks increased to 125, and the number of disaster response vehicles increased from 889 to 1304 (47 percent increase).

During the period between January 1 and July 16, 5 thousand 339 disasters and emergencies were responded to; These included 2,366 floods, 883 forest fires, 492 landslides, 305 storms, 119 earthquakes (4+ magnitude), 63 avalanches, 30 lightning and 5 mining accidents. Minister of Internal Affairs Mustafa Çiftçi emphasized the importance of continuous preparation and stated that AFAD has developed its trained human resources and technical infrastructure, and that the structure created in cooperation with the public and NGOs will be moved further. The target was exceeded in the 100 thousand-person Search and Rescue Team Project carried out by AFAD in order to increase Türkiye's disaster preparedness and response power.

Within the scope of the project, the pool of trained personnel who can respond to disasters on a national scale was expanded through training given to search and rescue teams of public institutions and organizations and non-governmental organizations. While the number of trained national search and rescue personnel was 15 thousand 250 in 2023, it reached 160 thousand 13 this year. Thus, Türkiye's trained national search and rescue capacity has increased more than 10 times in the last 3 years.

The number of tracks used in the practical training of search and rescue teams also increased to 125. The number of intervention and support vehicles involved in disasters, which was 889 last year, reached 1304. Thus, an increase in vehicle capacity of 415 vehicles, approximately 47 percent, was achieved.

AFAD teams responded to 5 thousand 339 disaster and emergency events that occurred across Türkiye between 1 January and 16 July. During this period, 2 thousand 366 floods and floods, 883 forest fires, 492 landslides and 305 storms occurred, 119 earthquakes of magnitude 4 and above were recorded in Türkiye, 63 avalanches, 30 lightning strikes and 5 mining accidents. In his assessment, Minister of Internal Affairs Mustafa Çiftçi stated that Türkiye, in addition to its unique natural and geographical riches, is located in a geography where different types of disasters such as earthquakes, floods, landslides, forest fires and avalanches can occur. Emphasizing that this geographical reality necessitates constant preparedness against disasters, Çiftçi said that AFAD is improving its trained human resources, technical infrastructure and response opportunities day by day.