AFAD distributes aid to 250 quake-hit families in Iraq

By Yunus Keles

SULEYMANIYE, Iraq (AA) - A Turkish aid agency on Wednesday distributed basic humanitarian aid to 250 quake-hit families in Iraq’s northern province of Sulaymaniyah.

Mehmet Gulluoglu, head of Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), along with other officials distributed tents, blankets and food to 250 families in Bamo village in Halabja district.

Bamo is one of the hardest hit areas of the 7.3-magnitude earthquake that struck the Iran-Iraq border region Sunday.

Hundreds of families are still living under open sky as their homes were completely or partially damaged by the quake.

Turkey's National Medical Rescue Team (UMKE) also treated the injured in the area who could not get to the hospital.

Saman Suleyman Faraj, one of the victims of the earthquake, told Anadolu Agency the humanitarian aid saved his family’s life.

"Our home was damaged by the earthquake and my family is living outdoors and they are suffering so much from the cold at night. Thanks to the tents that came from Turkey, we will have the chance to live here until we repair our house. I offer a heartfelt thank you to the Turkish state and the aid organizations. Thank you for your help," Faraj said.

Turkey’s aid efforts are being coordinated with the central government in Baghdad and the Iraqi Red Crescent.

The quake’s epicenter was located around 32 kilometers (20 miles) southwest of the city of Halabja near the Iranian border and 103 kilometers (64 miles) southeast of Sulaymaniyah.

Iran's state news agency IRNA reported Tuesday that the death toll from the quake had risen to at least 432 with 7,817 injured.

Iranian officials also announced that 536 villages were destroyed, 12,000 houses had collapsed and at least 70,000 people were homeless.