Faced with the magnitude of the catastrophe of the earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria, dozens of countries and agencies rushed to help the two countries afflicted by the horror of the aftermath of the disaster.
The UAE
The President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, directed the Joint Operations Command to launch Operation “The Gallant Knight 2” to support the Syrian and Turkish peoples, following the damage caused by the earthquake to the two countries.
The Commander of Joint Operations at the UAE Ministry of Defense, Major General Saleh bin Mejren Al Ameri, said:
- achieved The UAE Previously, the arrival of 3 military aircraft to Turkey, Monday, carrying search and rescue teams and medical supplies.
- We have been present since the first stage with the international research teams that arrived in Turkey. An area for which we will be responsible has been identified and it is Kaharman Maraesh”.
- Today, we are planning to carry out 7 flights, 2 of which are to the Syrian capital, Damascus. We have formed an operations command team at Adana Airport, and work is underway to establish other command teams to coordinate operations with Turkey and Syria.
India
New Delhi has sent 100 National Disaster Control Agency personnel, dog teams and equipment to Turkey.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement that medical teams, including trained doctors and paramedics, are also ready to travel.
South Korea
South Korea will send a 60-strong search and rescue team to Turkey, as well as medical supplies.
United State
US President Joe Biden wrote on Twitter: “I have directed my team to continue to monitor the situation closely in coordination with Turkey and to provide whatever is needed to assist.”
Britain
76 search and rescue specialists, as well as four rescue dogs and equipment, arrived in Turkey on Monday evening.
London is communicating with the United Nations on providing support to Syria.
Spain
Defense Minister Margarita Robles said Spain would send an A400 military plane to Turkey with firefighters and equipment on board, as well as an Airbus A330 with civil defense crews to work with rescuers.
Qatar
Qatar News Agency reported that the government will start operating relief flights to Turkey to transport search and rescue teams to the affected areas as well as vehicles, a field hospital, tents and other supplies.
Pakistan
Pakistan said two C-130 planes would leave the country on Tuesday for Turkey, carrying relief supplies and 36 search and rescue personnel.
Germany
Germany’s Federal Civil Protection Authority will provide camps with emergency shelters and water treatment units, Interior Minister Nancy Weser said, and is already preparing relief supplies, including emergency generators, tents and blankets, in coordination with the Turkish authorities.
Ukraine
President Volodymyr Zelensky said, “We are at this moment close to the friendly Turkish people and ready to provide the necessary assistance.”
Greece
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis offered his condolences and support to Turkey, saying that his country is mobilizing its resources and will help immediately.
Iraq
It will send civil defense crews to Turkey and Syria with emergency and relief supplies, food and fuel.
Algeria
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune affirmed Algeria’s support for Syria and its people, extending a helping hand in every effort to mitigate the severity and effects of the tragedy.
Tebboune also affirmed Algeria’s support for the brotherly Turkish people in these harsh circumstances, expressing full readiness to contribute to every effort that would mitigate the impact of this painful tragedy.
The Minister of Interior, Ibrahim Murad, supervised the launch of the first team of the Civil Protection to Turkey to participate in rescue and relief operations following the earthquake.
The team consists of 89 civil protection agents of various ranks and various specializations, including leadership and mines, rescue teams under the dam, synotechnical teams, doctors, paramedical agents, psychologists, specialized teams for interventions in hazardous materials accidents, and teams specialized in desalination of drinking water.
Egypt
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi affirmed Egypt’s full solidarity with the Syrian and Turkish peoples, and Egypt’s readiness to provide assistance to counter the effects of that earthquake.
Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to provide assistance to Syria and Turkey as part of the rescue efforts after the devastating earthquake.
In his message to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Putin stated: “Accept our sincere condolences for the victims and the large-scale damage caused by a powerful earthquake in your country.”
He added, “We are ready to provide the necessary assistance in this regard.”
In a similar message, Putin told his Syrian counterpart, Bashar al-Assad, that Russia was ready to help.