Egypt sends aid to Syria, Turkey

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
8 Feb 00:02
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Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has expressed his condolences to the victims in two separate phone calls with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad.

Rescue teams search through the wreckage of collapsed buildings in Aleppo, Syria, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023 (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)

Sources reported on Tuesday that Egypt sent five military planes loaded with emergency medical aid destined to assist rescuers in Syria and Turkey in treating the wounded from Monday's powerful earthquake that has so far claimed the lives of over 6,200 people.

State-owned Middle East News Agency (MENA) reported this morning that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi had issued the order to send five military transport airplanes to provide medical assistance to Turkey and Syria.

President Al-Sisi has likewise expressed his condolences to the victims in two separate phone calls with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, the conversation with the latter being the first since Al-Sisi assumed the presidency in 2014.

Egyptian Air Force C-130 arrives at Damascus International with relief supplies. "From the people of Egypt to the people of Syria." pic.twitter.com/k90lLeoJdM
— Rick Francona (@MiddleEastGuy) February 7, 2023

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry announced Monday that Egypt would send humanitarian assistance to Turkey and Syria with the aim of contributing to relief efforts in the aftermath of the earthquake.

Other countries that have also sent aid to Syria so far include Russia, Iran, Algeria, Iraq, and Tunisia, all of whom are either under sanctions or going through economic turmoil.

Russia reportedly sent troops and doctors from its Hmeimim airbase in the country to assist with the earthquake's aftermath.

Earlier today, Russian officials announced that Russian rescuers so far saved the lives of 42 people and found the bodies of 57 others, adding that nearly 200 people have received medical assistance.

Four stations for collecting donated blood have been established in Aleppo, Hama, Jabla, and Stamu, and over 11 tonnes of food and essentials have been distributed to locals in eight different aid stations, officials noted.

Iran has likewise defied western sanctions by loading airplanes with relief supplies and a team of rescuers. Another team is reportedly underway.

Turkey-Syria Earthquake

Thousands have been killed and tens of thousands injured after a powerful earthquake rocked Turkey and Syria on Monday. The magnitude 7.8 quake was one of the strongest to strike the area in more than a century. Rescue workers are digging through debris in freezing conditions, while the death toll is on the rise.