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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Public Information Office: (323) 881-2413
WHAT:
Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone will be joined by Sinan Kuzum, Consul General, Consulate General of the Republic of Turkey in Los Angeles on the one-year anniversary of the deadly 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck central southern Türkiye and northern Syria, resulting in the tragic loss of more than 50,000 lives and a catastrophic humanitarian crisis across the two countries.
Immediately following the earthquake, the County of Los Angeles Fire Department’s (LACoFD) urban search and rescue team, known internationally as USA-2 joined its counterpart, USA-1, based out of Fairfax County, Virginia, as part of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), for a 14-day deployment to assist in the 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.
Since the earthquakes, USAID has provided more than $242 million in humanitarian assistance to support partners delivering emergency food, health, shelter, water and sanitation, and other life-saving assistance in Türkiye and Syria.
While a year has passed since the earthquakes, the humanitarian needs of people affected by this disaster persist. We remain committed to supporting the people of Türkiye and Syria as they continue to recover from this tragedy.
WHO:
Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone
Sinan Kuzum, Consul General, Consulate General of the Republic of Turkey in Los Angeles
Robb Chapman, Team Leader, Operational Response & Capacity Building USAID/Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance
Members of USA-2
WHEN:
Tuesday, February 6, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. (PT)
WHERE:
LACoFD Pacoima Facility
12605 Osborne Street
Pacoima, CA 91331
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