• homeHome
  • HU professor leads JICA medical team dispatched to aid Turkey earthquake victims

HU professor leads JICA medical team dispatched to aid Turkey earthquake victims

Following a devastating magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck southern Turkey on February 6, 2023, an international emergency relief medical team has been dispatched at the request of the Turkish government.

The Japan Disaster Relief (JDR) Medical Team consisting of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and medical coordinators was dispatched by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The first group of five, led by Professor Tatsuhiko Kubo from the Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, left Haneda Airport for Istanbul Airport on February 10 to provide medical services to earthquake victims in the area.

Professor Kubo, an expert in international emergency relief and disaster medicine, has previously taken part in relief efforts in the Philippines and Mozambique and conducted a needs assessment survey to assist Ukrainian refugees in Moldova.

"The situation in Turkey is very severe, with 16,000 people dead and over 64,000 others injured, and freezing temperatures at night," explained Professor Kubo before departing Japan.

"The JDR Medical Team dispatched at the request of the Turkish government and the World Health Organization, is expected to provide not only direct relief to the victims but also medical support coordination techniques based on data that Japan has developed in response to the Great East Japan Earthquake and refined in subsequent disaster responses."

[Inquiries]

Hiroshima University Public Relations Office

E-mail: koho*office.hiroshima-u.ac.jp (Please replace * with @)


up