UPDATE 2 – Türkiye won’t open border gates with Syria in YPG/PKK-controlled areas, foreign minister says

UPDATES WITH TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER CAVUSOGLU'S PHONE CALLS

By Zehra Nur Duz

ANKARA (AA) – Türkiye will not open border crossings in areas controlled by the YPG/PKK in Syria following two powerful earthquakes that rocked both countries last week, the country’s foreign minister said on Monday.

“We told the international community and the UN that they could send humanitarian aid through the two gates under our control. We said that we can open these gates to humanitarian aid,” Mevlut Cavusoglu said during a joint news conference with his Libyan counterpart Najla al-Mangoush in Ankara, Türkiye’s capital.

The top diplomat was referring to the two border crossings into Syria in the southern Turkish province of Kilis.

“It is our humanitarian duty to facilitate aid to Syrian people after the deadly quakes,” he said.

Cavusoglu, however, added: “It is out of question for Türkiye to open border crossings in places (in Syria) controlled by the PKK and YPG.”

For years, the UN has sent humanitarian aid to Syria through just one border crossing, Cilvegozu, in southern Turkish province of Hatay, but it was damaged in the massive earthquakes last Monday.

The Turkish foreign minister denied the allegations that there was an influx of refugees from Syria to Türkiye after the twin quakes.

“Spreading misinformation to provoke the public is not a friendly approach,” he warned.

“Türkiye may open its airspace if Belgium or other European countries want to take Syrian people in Syria or Syrian refugees in our country to their own countries,” he added.

- Türkiye continues to receive support from all over world after quakes

Cavusoglu said Libya sent messages of solidarity and support soon after the earthquakes hit.

“Libya sent 25 search and rescue personnel and 59 healthcare personnel to our country on Feb. 7, immediately after the quakes. Later, an additional 12 healthcare personnel arrived in our country. They established a mobile hospital in the southern Hatay province,” he said.

Türkiye has still been receiving support from all over the world since the twin quakes struck last Monday, Cavusoglu said.

“We have received offers for aid from 99 countries and 16 international organizations. As of Feb. 13, a total of 9,401 personnel from 77 countries are working in the field, while 747 additional personnel are currently on their way to reach the disaster area,” he elaborated.

“Foreign countries and organizations have made a commitment to supply a total of 96,561 tents. We are working to bring them to our country," he added.

- Libya to provide $50M in aid to Türkiye

Mangoush, for her part, said: “We must help each other in this difficult time. Türkiye has provided great support to the Libyan people under all situations throughout history. Our duty now is to be with you in this difficult time."

She pledged that Libya will provide $50 million in aid to Türkiye in 10 days at the latest.

“As Muslim countries, we must support each other in difficult times. Türkiye has always stood by Libya. This is an opportunity to show our solidarity to the Turkish government and people,” she added.

Cavusoglu on Monday also met with Equatorial Guinea’s Foreign Minister Simeon Oyono Esono Angue in Ankara.

“We thanked Angue for his solidarity visit to Türkiye in the aftermath of the earthquake,” he said on Twitter.

Separately, Cavusoglu held phone conversations with Ghana's Foreign Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey and Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Monday.

Cavusoglu discussed the situation and relief efforts following last week's massive earthquakes with his counterparts, according to Turkish Foreign Ministry.

At least 31,643 people were killed and over 80,000 others wounded after the magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 earthquakes struck southern Türkiye within the space of less than 10 hours on Feb. 6, affecting around 13 million people, according to the latest official figures.

The earthquakes, centered in Kahramanmaras, also hit nine other provinces – Hatay, Gaziantep, Adiyaman, Malatya, Adana, Diyarbakir, Kilis, Osmaniye and Sanliurfa.

Several countries in the region, including Syria and Lebanon, also felt the strong tremors.

In neighboring Syria, the death toll has climbed above 3,500, with more than 5,200 people wounded.

*Merve Aydogan contributed to this story.