UK to send more help to Türkiye following quakes

LONDON

Britain will send additional support to quake-hit Türkiye and Syria, it announced on Wednesday, promising vital items such as tents and blankets to help survivors cope with the freezing temperatures.

The aid comes in addition to a team of 77 UK search and rescue specialists, equipment, and four search dogs that arrived on Tuesday in Gaziantep, one of the 10 provinces in Türkiye affected by the earthquakes, to begin their life-saving operations.

"The equipment being urgently deployed from the UK's stockpile will meet the needs of up to 15,000 people," an official statement said.

"The UK is sending the life-saving kit to Türkiye and Syria. This will include vital medical expertise and hygiene kits and also tents and blankets to help people keep warm and sheltered in the terrible freezing conditions they are having to endure on top of the devastation of the earthquakes," the UK's Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said.

"Our priority is to ensure life-saving assistance is given to those most in need, coordinated with the Turkish government, UN and international partners," he added.

The UK on Monday announced immediate support for Türkiye, including the search and rescue specialists, equipment, and rescue dogs, after the country's southern region shook with two strong earthquakes.

The British government said the UK was prioritizing what the Turkish government was asking for.

At least 9,057 people were killed and 52,979 others injured after the earthquakes hit, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday.

In a visit to the quake-hit region to inspect rescue and relief efforts, Erdogan said a total of 6,444 buildings were destroyed.

The magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 earthquakes, centered in the Kahramanmaras province, affected more than 13 million people across the 10 provinces.

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