Earthquakes test not only buildings but also consciences. Unfortunately, the painful experiences of past disasters have brought to light serious allegations that babies and children rescued after earthquakes have been smuggled abroad without being registered. This situation is not only shameful for humanity but also leads to irreparable human rights violations.
As Hızır International Search and Rescue Association, we clearly state that:
Every baby and child rescued in an earthquake is the honour of the state and the nation.
Therefore, it is vitally important that the following information is recorded during the handover process of children rescued from the rubble:
The licence plate number of the ambulance to which the child was handed over,
The name and surname of the doctor who carried out the handover and the institution where they work,
The time and place of the handover and the official report details,
The child's initial identification, bracelet or photo record, if any.
This information is not merely a bureaucratic detail, but a vital security chain that ensures the child's future, reunification with their family, and protection from abuse.
I hereby call upon all authorities, healthcare personnel, volunteers, and citizens:
➡️ Witness, record, question.
➡️ Do not remain silent about any unregistered, undocumented handover.
➡️ Not every action done in the name of ‘doing good’ is innocent.
While we are rescuing lives from the rubble, we cannot turn a blind eye to even one child being handed over to dark hands.
This is not a political issue, but a humanitarian and moral one.
As the Hızır International Search and Rescue Association, I respectfully announce to the public that we will follow this process to the end and keep the issue on the agenda in every necessary platform.
Ali GÜRGEN
Hızır International Search and Rescue Association
President
