Turkey trains medics in Syria’s Euphrates Shield zone

By Omar Koparan

ALEPPO, Syria

The Turkish Health Ministry continues training medical rescue teams in northern Syria.

The teams are providing services in the Euphrates Shield zone, along the Turkish-Syrian border.

The training programs provided by the Health Ministry relate to emergency intervention and rescue services.

"We teach them how to transfer patients to hospitals and first aid," said Sezer Saykal, a Turkish medical expert and trainer.

The teams have established 17 rescue centers in the Euphrates Shield area, he said.

They have also distributed phone numbers among residents who they can reach in case of an emergency.

Turkey's Operation Euphrates Shield, which began in August 2016 and ended in March 2017, was aimed at eliminating the terrorist threat along the Turkish border with the use of the Free Syrian Army, backed by Turkish artillery and air cover.