Turkey donates search, rescue equipment to Philippines

By Colak

ANKARA

Turkish aid agency on Wednesday made a donation of vital search and rescue equipment to a non-government organization in .

According to a statement issued by Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), the equipment to support rescue missions was donated to Bangsamoro Rescue Team (BARET).

BARET President Aladdin Palanggalan said that TIKA is an accredited agency and a ‘solution partner’.

“BARET is not an organization indigenous to Bangsamoro. Our door is open to [volunteers of] all religion, race, ethnicity as long as they are willing to share their talents and put themselves at risk. We have Christians and Animists among our volunteers,” Palanggalan said.

Search and rescue operations in the Philippines, where a great number of floods, cataracts, and storms take place, are carried out by governmental institutions and non-governmental organizations.

Turkey's TIKA agency was established in 1992. It is responsible for implementing the country’s developmental cooperation policies overseas.

The agency offers aid in more than 40 countries around the world.