Egypt reiterates Arab support for quake-hit Türkiye, Syria

By Ibrahim al-Khazen

ISTANBUL (AA) – Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on Wednesday reiterated Arab support and solidarity with Türkiye and Syria following last month’s deadly earthquakes that killed thousands in the two countries.

"We were painfully affected by the destruction caused by the earthquake in Syria and Türkiye,” Shoukry said in a speech at an Arab ministerial meeting in Cairo.

“We again extend our sincere condolences to the two countries and peoples and reiterate our solidarity with them," he added.

The top diplomat said Arab aid to the two countries reflect historic and humanitarian bonds with the Syrian and Turkish peoples.

“These bonds require us to work on solving the crisis in Syria in accordance with international and Arab resolutions at the earliest time,” he added.

More than 46,100 people were killed in Türkiye by earthquakes that struck on Feb. 6, according to officials.

The magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 quakes, centered in Kahramanmaras, rocked 11 provinces, including Adana, Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye, Elazig, and Sanliurfa.

In neighboring Syria, around 6,000 were killed and 12,000 others injured in the quakes in Syria, according to UN figures.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar