Pakistan has sent tons of relief goods, including tents, blankets, and food, via nine aircraft and more than 100 rescue personnel to support the rescue mission in the earthquake-hit regions of Turkey and Syria.
The death toll in both countries passed 36,000 on February 14, and tens of thousands of survivors have been left injured or homeless. In Turkey, 31,643 people are known to have been killed and 4,547 have been reported killed in Syria.
Pakistani donates $30 million
A Pakistani national living in the United States has anonymously donated $30 million for the survivors of this week’s massive earthquake in Turkiye and Syria. Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif tweeted that he was “deeply moved by the example” set by an anonymous compatriot, who made the donation to benefit victims of the quake.
ایک پاکستانی خاموشی سے ترکی کی امریکہ میں موجود سفارت خانے میں داخل ہوا اور خاموشی سے 30 ملین ڈالرز دے کر چلا گیا۔ pic.twitter.com/WWHRiKL9nE
— RTEUrdu (@RTEUrdu) February 11, 2023
Pakistani prime minister announced on Friday that $36 million would be allocated to a relief fund he created for the people of Turkey. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) will purchase blankets, winterized tents, and dried food for the earthquake victims and transport them to both countries, he said.
Pakistan sends relief plans to Turkey
Pakistan has sent a total of nine aircraft to the Turkish city of Adana carrying tons of relief goods, including winterized tents, blankets, and dried food, for the survivors of this week’s devastating earthquake, the Pakistani embassy in Turkiye said.
Pakistan Air Force’s IL-78 aircraft airlifted some 16.5 tons of relief goods, winterized tents, blankets and dried food, to Adana to help the people of Turkey.
Pakistan was among the first countries to send medical squads, search and rescue teams, and relief materials via military aircraft and passenger flights to assist Turkey’s response.
Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik, the chairman of NDMA said the organization has arranged and dispatched tons of relief goods and more is on the way.
- 162 tons of relief goods to Turkey and 9 tons to Syria.
- 447 tons of relief goods via 16 containers carrying relief goods to quake-hit regions.
- 195 tons consisting of double-ply tents and 1600 tons of food bags are under process.
Relief supplies sent via trucks
Chairman NDMA said that an additional 447 tons of relief packages have been dispatched via NLC trucks which includes family tents and blankets for the winter. “This consignment contains large family-sized winterized tents and blankets as per the current need of quake-affected people”. The goods from Pakistan will reach Turkey and Syria via Iran in 10 days.
Another consignment of 195 tons consisting of double-ply tents and procurement of 1600 tons of food bags are under process which will be dispatched through NLC trucks and Pakistan Navy ships to both countries in the coming days, the NDMA chairman said.
1st road convoy loaded with winterised tents & blankets for Quake-Hit Syria & Turkiye sent off through 16 NLC containers from Lahore today.@KhSaad_Rafique, @RTanveerPMLN, @iAmjad_Khan123, Mr. Emir Ozbay Consul General of Turkiye were present @ sending off event. pic.twitter.com/cAf5GW6P9O
— NDMA PAKISTAN (@ndmapk) February 11, 2023
Pakistani rescue teams saving lives
More than 150 hours after the earthquake in Turkey, the Pakistan Army and Rescue 1122 teams continue to rescue survivors. They have so far successfully rescued 11 injured individuals from the rubble, according to NDMA.
Pakistani Embassy in Turkey said that Pakistan Rescue Teams saved a 15-year-old boy from rubble in the Adiyaman region of Turkey after 137 hours.
On February 12, Pakistan’s embassy in Turkey said that the “Pakistan Urban Search & Rescue (USAR) team saved one more life in Adiyaman”, a city in southeastern Turkey. Pakistani rescue team together with Turkish and Vietnamese rescue teams saved the life of a 17-year-old teenager in Adiyaman province some 138 hours after the earthquakes. The Turkish news agency also shared the video of the miraculous moment on Twitter.
In Islamabad, a special meeting was held at the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) in which Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal updated the progress on relief efforts for the earthquake-affected people in Turkey and Syria. Turkish Ambassador Mehmet Paçaci, chairman of NDMA, DG NLC, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Pakistan Navy, and representatives of PDMA attended the meeting. Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkey and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Syria participated in the meeting via video link.
Turkish Amb H.E Mehmet Pacaci, Pak Amb in Turkiye Dr. Yousaf Junaid & Pak Amb in Syria Air Marshal R Shahid Akhter also attended the session.#PakistanStandsWithTurkiye#PakistanStandsWithSyria pic.twitter.com/1smVBF7coS
— NDMA PAKISTAN (@ndmapk) February 12, 2023