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Operation Avid Response is the name of U.S. humanitarian relief efforts to Turkey after the
Operation Avid Response is the name of U.S. humanitarian relief efforts to Turkey after the 1999 İzmit earthquake
An earthquake of moment magnitude 7.6 struck Kocaeli Province, Turkey on 17 August 1999. According to official figures, at least 18,373 people died and 48,901 people were injured during the earthquake, and 5,840 people were missing. At least 15 ...
that struck Western Turkey on August 17, 1999. The earthquake, measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale, centered near Izmit, approximately 65 miles east of Istanbul, left an estimated 600,000 people homeless and damaged over 54,000 buildings, with up to 35,000 needing demolition. The mission concluded September 11, 1999.Background
Beginning on August 29, U.S. European Command (EUCOM) facilitated three shipments of relief supplies and tents via ferry, with a combined capacity to shelter more than 100,000 people. Additionally, three U.S. Navy warships from the amphibious ready group, accompanied by the26th Marine Expeditionary Unit
The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (26th MEU) is one of seven such marine expeditionary units (MEUs) currently in existence in the United States Marine Corps. It is an air-ground task force with a strength of about 2,400 personnel when at full ...
(MEU) comprising 2,100 Marines, were deployed to Izmit to provide humanitarian and medical assistance. Those who participated in the operation were awarded the Humanitarian Service Medal
The Humanitarian Service Medal (HSM) is a military service medal of the United States Armed Forces which was created on January 19, 1977 by President Gerald Ford under . The medal may be awarded to members of the United States military (incl ...
.
In response to Turkish government requests to U.S. Air Force, Air National Guard firefighting planes were prepared for deployment to contain oil refinery fires, although Turkish firefighters ultimately managed to bring the blazes under control before U.S. assistance was required.
Organization
U.S. efforts were handled by federal government agencies such as EUCOM and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). These relief efforts prioritized search and rescue operations followed by the provision of shelter, food, medical care, and essential services.See also
*Operation Shining Hope
Joint Task Force (JTF) Shining Hope was the United States contribution to Operation Allied Harbor in 1999. The mission of JTF Shining Hope was to conduct foreign humanitarian assistance operations in support of US government agencies and non-gover ...
References
External links
*{{Commons category-inline, Operation Avid Response Humanitarian missions of the United States Air Force Turkey–United States relations