(L-R) Bram Krieps, CGDIS; Paul Schroeder, CGDIS; Christophe Fumanti, "HIT" intervention group; Manou Bourg, "HIT" intervention group; Minister Taina Bofferding;
Credit: MINT
On Sunday 19 February 2023, Luxembourg's Ministry of Home Affairs, together with the Directorate for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs and the Grand Ducal Fire and Rescue Corps (CGDIS), confirmed that, the two experts of the intervention group in charge of humanitarian missions (Humanitarian Intervention Team - HIT) of CGDIS in Turkey since 7 and 9 February 2023, are being recalled to Luxembourg; they will be replaced by two other experts.
One had travelled as an expert in information and communication technologies who proceeded to the implementation of a first device of the mobile satellite telecommunications platform "emergency.lu" in order to support the restoration of telecommunications services in the region, and the other as a logistics expert. Both had been sent on mission within the framework of the partnership of the IHP network (International Humanitarian Partnership), of which the CGDIS is a member, in order to support the emergency response team of the United Nations system for the assessment and Disaster Coordination (UNDAC).
After nearly two weeks of mission, the first two experts sent to the disaster area are expected to return to Luxembourg next week, after the hand-over to their colleagues. According to the statement, proceeding in this way makes it possible, on the one hand, to ensure that Turkey continues to benefit from the necessary assistance, taking into account the seriousness and urgency of the situation it is facing, and, on the other part, to preserve the physical and psychological state of health of the experts sent. Thus, through these efforts, the Luxembourg State continues to commit to and support European solidarity, as part of the international aid provided to the victims of the disaster area in Turkey.
