Several organizations and countries offered assistance to Turkey and Syria this Monday (6) after a massive earthquake that killed at least 2,300 people.

Earthquake in Turkey and Syria this Monday (6) – Photo: Youssef KARVASHAN / AFPTV / RUDAW / TURKISH PRESIDENCE / AFP

According to Turkey’s AFAD (Disaster and Emergency Management Authority), 1,498 people have died and at least 8,533 have been injured in the aftershocks in Turkey.

European Union

The European bloc sent rescue teams to Turkey after the country turned to the EU for help. The European Union has also activated its Copernicus satellite system to provide emergency mapping services and has said it is ready to help those affected in Syria.

UNHCR

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi expressed “solidarity” to those affected in both countries and said UNHCR was “ready to provide urgent assistance to survivors through our teams on the ground.”

NATO

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg expressed “full solidarity” with ally Turkey and said he was in contact with Turkish authorities.

US

US President Joe Biden said he was “deeply saddened” by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria that killed at least 2,300 people this Monday (6) and pledged assistance to both countries.

“I am deeply saddened by the loss of life and destruction caused by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria. I ordered my team to continue to closely monitor the situation in coordination with Turkey and provide all necessary assistance,” he said on his official Twitter account.

“Our teams are rapidly mobilizing to begin supporting Turkey’s search and rescue operations and meeting the needs of earthquake victims and displaced people,” Biden added in a statement released later by the White House.

According to the memo, the president asked the US authorities to contact Turkish officials to coordinate assistance and stressed that US-backed humanitarian groups are responding given the devastation in Syria.

“Today, our hearts and deepest condolences go out to all those who have lost loved ones, those who have been injured, and those who have seen their homes and businesses destroyed,” the White House added.

Spain

On Monday, Spain will send two planes carrying 85 rescuers to Turkey to help search for survivors, the interior ministry said.

Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albarez, in turn, said the drones would also be sent.

Venezuela

Venezuela expressed its “readiness to prepare immediate support, assistance and necessary assistance to the efforts of the governments of Turkey and Syria to restore, as soon as possible, the normal functioning of the affected regions.”

India

India has announced that it will immediately send medical and rescue teams, as well as humanitarian aid, to Turkey.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, two teams of the National Disaster Response Force, consisting of 100 people, with the help of service dogs, are ready to be sent to the affected area. Teams of doctors and paramedics with medicines are also being prepared.

Germany

Germany, home to about three million people of Turkish origin, is “mobilizing all possible assistance,” Interior Minister Nancy Feiser said after talking to the Turkish ambassador in Berlin.

According to him, the German Federal Agency for Technical Assistance (THW) “can organize asylum camps, as well as water treatment plants.”

THW is also preparing generators, tents and blankets.

In addition, Berlin will increase by one million euros ($1.1 million) its aid to humanitarian aid charities in northwest Syria.

Russia

More than 300 Russian servicemen stationed in Syria are helping to clear the rubble.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, 300 military personnel and 60 pieces of equipment are mobilized to “clear the rubble, search for victims and provide medical assistance in areas that have suffered the most destruction.”

Ukraine

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said that his country is “ready to provide the necessary assistance to overcome the consequences of the disaster.”

Greece

Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Greek prime minister and Turkey’s longtime rival, said Ankara had already approved the deployment of a Greek rescue unit and that Athens was ready to send “extra personnel, medical supplies, blankets and campaign tents.”

Great Britain

According to the British minister, the UK sent 76 search and rescue specialists to Turkey.

“The UK stands ready to help in any way it can,” British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tweeted.

France

President Emmanuel Macron said that France is ready to provide emergency assistance to Turkey and Syria.

Will

Iran is ready to provide “immediate assistance to these two friendly countries,” said President Ebrahim Raisi.

© Agence France-Presse