Reporting
Earthquake in Turkey: ten days after the disaster, the care of the injured continues
Fatima Zaracandil, a nurse, volunteers in a tent at an emergency relief center in Kharamanaras.
She treats dozens of patients every day.
© Pierre Olivier/RFI
Text by: RFI Follow
4 mins
In Turkey, the challenge of caring for the wounded remains a priority, nine days after the earthquakes that devastated the south of the country.
In the disaster areas, hundreds of small emergency reception centers continue to see an influx of patients.
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With our special correspondents in Turkey,
Pierre Olivier
and
Jad El Khoury
Under a tent, sitting on a camp bed, Humut Uss, 20, comes to change his dressings, his right arm has been completely stitched up.
His mother is by his side.
“
When my building collapsed, I flew away and found myself in a school playground.
I have no idea how I got hurt.
Before, I couldn't move my arm, now it's easier...
”
,
explains the young man.
“
We buried his father and his brother
,” continues his mother.
“
Before, I only took care of myself.
But now, when I get treatment, I will have to take care of my mother and my sister
,
”
Humut explains.
►Also read: Earthquake in Turkey: a tragedy for thousands of children
Scenes like this are repeated dozens of times a day in these emergency rescue centers.
This nurse came specially to Kharamanmaras from another region of Turkey.
“
Monday, there was the earthquake, Tuesday, I took my service here!
Several teams have come to join us to help people, we provide psychological support, dressings, stitches... And if urgent intervention is needed, we do it!
“
, she assures.
Exhausted caregivers
In each of these small medical centers that dot the city centers, caregivers, often exhausted.
Fatima Zaracandil is a nurse, of Moroccan origin.
“
There are people who arrive by walking, there are people who arrive with transport, there are people who go out.
We left the fatigue behind us.
We're there, whether it's 24 hours, whether it's 48 hours, eating, not eating, it's not important.
It's humanitarian, that's what's very important
,” says the nurse.
Increasingly, these small structures are supported by field hospitals sent by international aid.
In the region of Andiyaman, very close to the epicenter, France opened Tuesday in Golbaschié its field hospital called ESCRIM for rapid medical intervention security element, it is able to accommodate up to 100 patients a day .
The field hospital sent by France.
2000m2, two operating theaters, it can accommodate 100 patients a day.
© Pierre Olivier/RFI
It's a real kit hospital.
Arrived by cargo plane in pieces, once installed, the structure looks like a gigantic fully equipped tent.
“There, for example, the maternity ward, there are two operating theatres… We can do x-rays, we have an anesthesiologist, surgeons…”
Treat the wounded, but not only
More than 2000 heated square meters in which 100 doctors, nurses, firefighters will work day and night.
Barely opened, the hospital is already in demand with the arrival of a first patient who has the fingers of his left hand severed.
"
My fingers got stuck in the door when I climbed onto the roof,"
he said
.
When I saw this hospital, I stopped, Turkish rescuers told me it was a French hospital.
I want to personally thank all the caregivers here!
»
We must treat the wounded, but not only.
"People continue to have appendicitis, the usual pathology, it continues to exist outside of the disaster", explains
Benjamin Conte who is an anesthesiologist.
Because decided in cooperation with the Turkish authorities, the location of this field hospital was not chosen at random.
“
Here in Golbaschié, the hospital has not been operational since the earthquakes.
Emergencies were taken care of directly in the hospital car park, so we set up the hospital here nearby to be able to unload this hospital which was no longer functional at all, ”
explains Captain Sylvain who is the operational manager. of structure.
Planned to operate in total autonomy for 15 days, this field hospital could stay a month here in Turkey.
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Turkey
Earthquake
Health and medicine