Turkish health ministry uses armoured ambulances which can be used under firing of small arms 12602163

Defence & Security News - Turkey
 
Turkish health ministry uses armoured ambulances which can be used under firing of small arms.
Armoured ambulances sent to the southeastern province of Diyarbakir by the Turkish health ministry to enhance the medical response in conflict torn areas, and is now in service, the Dogan news agency reported on Thursday, February 25, 2016. (Source TODAYSZAMAN.COM).
     
Armoured ambulances sent to the southeastern province of Diyarbakir by the Turkish health ministry to enhance the medical response in conflict torn areas, and is now in service, the Dogan news agency reported on Thursday, February 26, 2016. (Source TODAYSZAMAN.COM). The Turkish Health Ministry has sent one armored and 10 regular ambulances to Diyarbakir. (Photo: DHA)
     
The Turkish Health Ministry has sent one armored and 10 regular ambulances to Diyarbakir, in parts of which clashes between the security forces and terrorists from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) is ongoing.

Diyarbakir Provincial Health Director Mehmet Sait Avar said the main reason for the ambulances' arrival was the clashes in the Sur district, parts of which have been under a round the clock curfew since Dec. 2 last year.

Avar continued by stating that the ambulance weighs 5.5 tons and is armored on all of its sides, and with the armored ambulance's arrival it is expected that the process of picking up patients in the areas where fighting is continuing will be made easier.

Saying that medical personnel have problems with their safety and that ambulances sometime come under fire, Avar said the ministry is working to improve its staff's working conditions.

Dogan also stated that the cost of the armored ambulance was TL 450,000 (€140,000).