The 85-member team of the Swiss Rescue Chain has returned from operations at the scene of the Algerian earthquake. It arrived at Zurich airport on Monday afternoon. The team was welcomed back at a reception at the Swiss Air-Rescue Rega Center by SDC Director-General Walter Fust, Major-General Christian Josi of the DDPS and Mustapha Bouzid, Chargé d'Affaires at the Algerian Embassy in Bern. The head of the operation Toni Frisch, the delegate for Humanitarian Aid and head SHA, thanked all the participants for their work.
Although Switzerland reacted quickly and was the first to have an international team at the scene, rescuers were unable to save any lives. Nevertheless, they located 23 bodies which were recovered by the Swiss or other teams. The activities of the Swiss team were highly appreciated by the Algerian side, both the people and the authorities, and recognized as a sign of Swiss solidarity. Swiss cooperation in the earthquake zone is continuing even after the return of the rescue team, with two people, one of them a representative of the Swiss Red Cross, organizing and supervising the distribution of emergency material. On the aircraft used to take the rescue team back to Switzerland was a delivery of 2,000 cooking units and 215 tents for a total value of SFr. 200,000. At the same time further aid needs are being assessed.
The Algerian authorities have come in for criticism that the aid arrived too late. But the experience of the Swiss team is otherwise. Collaboration between Switzerland and the Algerian authorities, military, civil defence and the public was very close and well managed. In some cases, the cooperation was exemplary. In the first days after such a catastrophe shortcomings are unavoidable and more than understandable. What made the coordinating activities of the authorities extremely difficult was the breakdown in electricity and water supplies and particularly communications systems.
SWISS AGENCY FOR DEVELOPMENT AND COOPERATION
SDC
Media and Communication
Contact:
Jean-Philippe Jutzi, SDC spokesperson, Tel 079 292 08 49 or at jean-philippe.jutzi@deza.admin.ch.