AFAD begins search and rescue at Sednaya prison

The Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) teams have started search, rescue, and recovery operations for those believed to be trapped in the Sednaya Prison, a notorious torture facility under the regime of ousted leader Bashar al-Assad. AFAD teams, dispatched to the site, have begun their efforts in the region. AFAD President Okay Memiş and Burhan Köroğlu, the Deputy Chargé d'Affaires of the Turkish Embassy in Damascus, made statements to the press outside Sednaya Prison in the capital, Damascus. Memiş stated that they traveled from Hatay to Damascus, a journey of about 5-6 hours. He explained that they organized the mission after receiving a request from the 'local authority in Syria' through the Turkish Embassy in Damascus. The teams, consisting of 43 vehicles and 120 personnel, will be conducting their operations at Sednaya Prison. Memiş also noted that mobile phone networks were almost non-functional, and communication with Ankara was maintained via satellite phones. He added that they would be using wall imaging devices, ground radar, a search team with four dogs, and seismic acoustic listening equipment. Memiş highlighted the horrific conditions at the prison, where prisoners have died, lost their sanity, and suffered due to the brutal treatment of the Assad regime, emphasizing that the area is also criminal and holds evidentiary value. He reassured that the search would be conducted with sensitivity to these factors, hoping for a positive outcome. Memiş explained that the operations were coordinated with the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, local authorities, and the Turkish Embassy in Damascus. He mentioned that Sednaya Prison is vast and that their work would begin by reviewing architectural plans of the facility.