A protocol was signed between Izmir Metropolitan Municipality and Izmir Amateur Sports Clubs Federation for the creation of volunteer search and rescue teams. Speaking at the signing ceremony, the President Tunç SoyerEmphasizing that he will be a pioneer in the volunteer work of young athletes, “Izmir expects a lot from you. It is good that you are there, it is good that you are protecting Izmir. I am proud to present the Izmir imece to Turkey and to implement an exemplary practice”.
A cooperation protocol was signed between Izmir Metropolitan Municipality and Izmir Amateur Sports Clubs Federation for the creation of volunteer search and rescue teams. Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor at Historical Coal Gas Factory Tunç SoyerPresident at the signing ceremony hosted by Tunç Soyer's wife Neptün Soyer, Republican People's Party (CHP) İzmir Provincial President Şenol Aslanoğlu, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Secretary General Ertuğrul Tugay, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Fire Department Head İsmail Derse, Youth and Sports Services Department Head Hakan Orhunbilge, Earthquake Risk Management and Urban Development Head of the Improvement Department Banu Dayangaç, Izmir Amateur Sports Clubs Federation (ASKF) President Efkan Muhtar and 11 union presidents of amateur clubs operating in Izmir, athletes, non-governmental organizations, representatives of associations and chambers, and firefighters attended.
“In a possible disaster, all kinds of needs will be answered”
Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor, who started his speech by emphasizing that Türkiye and Izmir are earthquake zones. Tunç SoyerReminding that they established the Department of Earthquake as soon as they took office, he conveyed the works carried out to make İzmir resilient. Stating that they have implemented the most comprehensive earthquake research and risk reduction projects in Turkey, Mayor Soyer said, “We are making an underground map of İzmir. We are taking X-rays of Izmir. Earthquake fault line map is being updated. We continue to work on building inventory and building due diligence at the scale of districts. All of this is on its way and continues to walk,” he said.
Stating that there are 29 shelters and over 2 assembly areas in the city, Mayor Soyer stated that the infrastructure works in these areas have also been completed and said, "In a possible disaster, all kinds of needs can be met in İzmir."
“We will do the work in 200 neighborhoods”
Stating that immediate response to the earthquake saves lives, Mayor Soyer also reminded that teams of disaster volunteers were established in the neighborhoods in order to continue search and rescue efforts more effectively in the city, and said, “We will work with neighborhood volunteers. We will do this work in 200 neighborhoods of Izmir. You are dynamic, successful young people who spend their lives with sports. Your ability to save lives in your neighborhood should be much greater. That's why we have prepared a training program for you," he said.
Good news for young volunteers
Noting that he will be a pioneer in the volunteer work of young athletes, President Soyer said, “At the end of the trainings to be given to teams of 25 each quarter, we will give invitations to our volunteer youth for events such as concerts and theatre. We will provide internship opportunities at Izmir Metropolitan Municipality for our high school volunteers. We will provide free transportation for all our volunteers. We have a lot of good news like this. Izmir needs your volunteering. You need to know this. Izmir needs you to contribute to the rescue efforts with the training you will receive. You guys are already doing a great job doing sports. Now, by adding this disaster volunteering program to this, you will be making a very valuable contribution not only for yourself but also for the city you live in. Volunteering is perhaps the most beautiful thing in the world, the most beautiful virtue of humanity. You will volunteer and we will be proud of you. Izmir expects a lot from you. It is good that you are there, it is good that you are protecting Izmir. I am proud to present the Izmir imece to Turkey and to implement an exemplary practice”.
President Soyer said, “I must say proudly; İzmir Fire Brigade is Turkey's most successful, the most powerful, the most educated and hardworking fire brigade.
“Your support is very important”
Reminding the importance of search and rescue activities after the disaster, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Fire Brigade Head İsmail Derse said, “We know the consequences of the great earthquakes that took place in our country after the İzmir disaster and we all learned lessons. Izmir Metropolitan Municipality played a major role both in Izmir and in the disaster area covering 11 provinces. In addition, we take part in many issues such as forest fires, search and rescue activities, and traffic accidents. Your support is very important. That's why we started this volunteer program. We want to establish a search and rescue team in our sports clubs and turn it into a big family.”
“Earthquake is no joke”
Referring to the earthquake that took place in İzmir on October 30, 2020, ASKF President Efkan Muhtar started his speech by commemorating the lives lost. Expressing that he is pleased with the disaster works of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, Muhtar stated that there was a problem of lack of education in the 6 February earthquakes. Mukhtar said, “Without the lack of education, they had difficulties in intervening. Maybe many lives will be saved through these trainings. Izmir is an earthquake zone, no joke. It is not clear when it will happen," he said.
Champions not forgotten
At the protocol ceremony, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Youth and Sports Club Women's Water Polo team, which became the champion of Turkey for the second time in a row by beating Galatasaray, and İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Youth and Sports Club, which won the 3rd place in the European Championship and the 2nd trophy in the Turkish Championship, wheelchair basketball team athletes with the trophies they won Tunç Soyermet with. President Soyer said, “I am extremely excited and proud today. We are proud of our athletes. They brought us great joy. I am proud of each and every one of them. It is a great source of pride and happiness for us. We all need these success stories," he said.
Volunteer search and rescue teams will be established from amateur athletes
With the signed protocol, volunteer search and rescue teams formed from the board of 312 amateur sports clubs, members, trainers and athletes affiliated to the Izmir Amateur Sports Clubs Federation, were informed before the disaster with theoretical and practical trainings, and supported the manpower and search and rescue teams needed during and after the disaster. will be equipped.
In case of disasters in line with the needs to be determined by the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Fire Brigade Department, the Search and Rescue Units of 25 people consisting of volunteers of Izmir Amateur Sports Clubs will work in coordination.