Pakistanis in Türkiye shore up relief supplies for quakes-affected people

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

KAHRAMANMARAS, Türkiye (AA) – Pakistan is ramping up a national effort to meet the needs of victims in Türkiye who were affected by powerful earthquakes earlier this week.

At least 10 flights from Pakistan have landed in Türkiye since Tuesday carrying search and rescue teams and emergency supplies, including tents and blankets as nearly 13 million people have been affected by two strong 7.7- and 7.6-magnitude earthquakes Monday, centered in southern Kahramanmaras province.

Pakistan’s top diplomat in Türkiye, Yousaf Junaid and embassy staff in the Turkish national capital of Ankara visited collection points in Cankaya and Kecioren municipalities in Ankara to deliver and participate in the packing of relief goods affected areas.

Junaid also visited provincial Ankara Governor Vasip Sahin on Friday to “convey heartfelt condolences” and handover relief items collected by the Pakistani Embassy staff.

At least 24,600 people were killed and more than 80,000 injured by the two strong earthquakes that affected 10 provinces, including Adana, Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye and Sanliurfa.

Almost 92,700 people have been evacuated from quake-hit regions.

Several countries in the region, including Syria and Lebanon, also felt the strong tremors that struck Türkiye in the space of less than 10 hours.

In Istanbul, members of the Pakistani Students in Türkiye group also established a relief camp in the Fatih district where people donated money, baby items, warm clothes, sanitary products and canned food which would be delivered to residents in the south.

The students are coordinating relief work with the Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan -- a prominent aid organization in South Asia.