Tue, Feb 14th 2023
A collapsed building in Malatya, Turkey. (Credit: The Swiss Federal Government).
In the week since one of the deadliest earthquakes in history struck Turkey and Syria leaving at least 37,600 dead, Swiss officials have decided to fast-track earthquake victims’ visa applications so they can join relatives in Switzerland.
Last week a 7.8 earthquake shook a 59-mile radius stretching from southern Turkey to northern Syria. It is the second strongest earthquake in history after one in 1668. So far, it is the second deadliest earthquake after Haiti’s in 2010, which killed more than 100,000 people; but, the death toll is still rising as rescue workers brave the cold and snow to find survivors trapped under the rubble. The earthquake has been followed by more than 2,100 aftershocks.
Switzerland immediately responded to Turkey’s call for help, by sending 87 search and rescue experts, as well as a team of specially trained search dogs. The rescue team also included specialists from the Swiss Armed Forces. Three of the experts from the Swiss Humanitarians Aid Unit are advising Turkey’s Ministry of the Interior. The team left Monday with relief supplies.
The Swiss government announced Tuesday that it is giving priority to visa applications from victims in Turkey and Syria, so that they may join their relatives in Switzerland. They will still need a visa to enter the country unless they meet special requirements such as their homes have been destroyed or they have urgent medical reasons, according to the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration.
Special forms are available via the Swiss Consulate General in Istanbul and additional staff is being sent to Turkey now to help process the applications quickly and reunite families. Swiss authorities are in contact with their Turkish counterparts to streamline rescue passports and help EU nations, as well.
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