In Van, National Medical Rescue Team (UMKE) The 3-day drill, organized with broad participation from the teams, reinforced disaster preparations by being carried out with professional coordination. UMKE teams from Van, Bitlis, Hakkari and Ağrı provinces, a scenario that occurred in this large-scale event train accident struggled with. A total of 120 personnel The drill, which was held in Muradiye district with the participation of the public, produced images that were as real as reality.
Details of the Exercise
Van Health Directorate This comprehensive exercise, organized by , was carried out to test and improve the disaster preparedness capacity in the region. December 4-6, 2024 UMKE teams from different provinces attended the trainings held between depressing ve traffic accident He worked on disaster scenarios such as.
Train Crash Scenario
One of the most striking parts of the exercise was the scenario train and minibus collision It was an accident that occurred as a result of a collision. The teams that received the accident report quickly arrived at the scene.
- Those Involved in the Incident: Total in train and minibus 12 injured.
- First Response: First aid was quickly administered to the injured at the scene.
- Referral to Hospital: The injured were transported to surrounding hospitals by ambulance.
During this process, UMKE teams, Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), itfaiye, polis, gendarme ve The Turkish Red Crescent worked in coordination with.
Objectives of the Exercise
The main purpose of the exercise was to increase the capacity of different institutions to work together in disaster response and to test the preparedness level of UMKE teams for difficult conditions. Van Provincial Health Directorate Health Services Director Specialist Dr. Mehmet Tatlı, drew attention to the importance of the event and made the following statements:
“We carried out a large-scale UMKE winter drill with 80 people in total, including 120 healthcare workers and UMKE volunteers, as well as common stakeholders such as AFAD, fire department, police, gendarmerie and Red Crescent. With these drills, we aim to both increase the coordination among the teams and strengthen cooperation between institutions.”
Tatlı emphasized that such studies on disaster preparedness are of vital importance.
Importance of UMKE Exercises
UMKE drills are of critical importance for rapid and effective response in disasters and emergencies. Since Turkey is a country located in an earthquake zone, such drills aim to increase the response capacity of both health teams and other institutions. The following issues came to the fore in the implementation of the drill:
- Strengthening Coordination: Information sharing and cooperation between different institutions has been increased.
- Scenario Variety: Applications have been made in different types of disasters such as earthquakes and traffic accidents.
- Realistic Education: Work was carried out in challenging weather conditions and in accordance with real event scenarios.
Institutions Participating in the Exercise
The exercise was not limited to just UMKE teams but took place within a broader framework with the active participation of different institutions. These institutions included:
- AFAD (Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency)
- The Turkish Red Crescent
- Police and Gendarmerie Teams
- Fire Department
- Local governments and other health organizations.
The active role of these institutions in the exercise once again revealed how critical coordination is in a real disaster situation.
The Power of Regional Cooperation
The participation of teams from Van, Bitlis, Hakkari and Ağrı provinces revealed the importance of regional cooperation. Thanks to such joint exercises organized between the provinces of the region, a stronger disaster response network is created by providing information exchange between institutions.
Held in Muradiye district UMKE exercise, was an important step in disaster preparedness. By successfully completing the scenarios, the participating teams both reinforced their theoretical knowledge and developed their practical skills.
Dr. Mehmet Tatlı thanked all the institutions and volunteers who participated in the exercise and stated that such activities will continue regularly. Van, Bitlis, Hakkari and Ağrı UMKE teamsmade significant contributions to the disaster response capacity of the region.
