On Tuesday, February 6, 2024, the County of Los Angeles Fire Department (LACoFD) hosted a press conference to observe the one-year anniversary of the disastrous Türkiye-Syria Earthquake.
LACoFD Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone recognized Consul General Sinan Kuzum and members of the Consulate General of the Republic of Turkey for their resilience and recovery efforts in restoring their region. Chief Marrone also passed along his accolades to Robb Chapman, Team Leader, Operational Response and Capacity Building U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance for the life-saving aid provided to Türkiye and Syria.
Last year, on February 6, 2023, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the region of southern Türkiye and northern Syria causing the loss of more than 50,000 lives and a catastrophic humanitarian crisis across the two countries.
Immediately following the earthquake, the LACoFD’s urban search and rescue team known internationally as USA-2 joined its counterpart, USA-1, based out of Fairfax County as part of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) for a 14-day deployment to help with humanitarian and response efforts.
Comprised of more than 200 people, including disaster experts from the USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance and 164 search and rescue members, along with 12 canines, the DART led the effort to search for survivors in several locations in Türkiye using sensitive cameras, listening devices, search and rescue canines, and other specialized equipment.
During this year’s press conference, Consul General Kuzum and the Consulate expressed gratitude to LACoFD Fire Chief Marrone, the USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, USA-1 and USA-2 teams, and law enforcement partners who were deployed and provided rescue efforts and resources during this crisis.
More than $242 million in assistance has been provided by USAID through the delivery of emergency food, health services, shelter aid, water and sanitation resources, and other life-saving assistance.
The LACoFD stands in solidarity with the people of Türkiye and Syria as they continue to recover from this tragedy with strength and resilience.
