An Israeli military field hospital established near the Turkish city of Kahramanmaraş has so far treated around 180 people, including Syrian refugees living in the country, who were injured in the devastating earthquake that struck the region earlier in the week.
The Israel Defense Forces said Saturday that at least 10 Syrian civilians who were in Turkey at the time of Monday’s 7.8-magnitude quake and its aftershocks were treated at the field hospital, which was set up in an abandoned medical center building.
1/2 The incredible team at #Israel’s field hospital in #Türkyie has treated more than 200 patients over the weekend. So far, our search & rescue operation has rescued 19 survivors, including a number of children. https://t.co/bxx0NvTZNo
— Tzipi Hotovely (@TzipiHotovely) February 13, 2023
On Friday, a four-year-old Syrian refugee whose parents were killed in the quake was brought to the field hospital.
“This is an area with a lot of Syrian refugees. This boy was rescued three or four days ago, his whole family was killed, and he was brought by his uncle. We treated him and calmed him down. He came in a moderate to serious condition,” said Lt. Col. Aziz Ibrahim, a nurse and a commander in the IDF Medical Corps.
“I found myself taking out halva from our combat rations and giving it to him, and he loved it,” Ibrahim said, referring to the popular sesame snack. “Of course, I also spoke to him in Arabic.”
Ibrahim said the boy’s uncle came up to him and said, “You Israelis treat us better than our people.”
“This was really touching, I told him we’re here to save lives… I think this is a good message for the world to know what the IDF is and what its values are,” Ibrahim said.
Israel has deployed around 450 rescue specialists, doctors and nurses to Turkish towns and cities to assist in the relief effort.
This year, we want to do more to bless Israel and the Jewish people.
We know that as we bless Israel this year, God will bless us, just as He promised in Genesis 12:3, “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Now is the time to bless Israel and the Jewish people.