Earthquake: Biden promises to send aid to Turkey

February 07, 2023 09:30

Cagla Gurdogan/Reuters

US President Joe Biden on Monday (local time) reaffirmed the readiness of America to provide any and all needed assistance to Turkey to recover from the devastating earthquakes.

In a telephone call to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Biden vowed US assistance to NATO ally Turkey.

"He reaffirmed the readiness of the United States to provide any and all needed assistance to our NATO ally Turkey in response to this tragedy," the White House said in a statement on Biden's call with Erdogan.

"President Biden expressed condolences on behalf of the American people to those who were injured or lost loved ones in the earthquakes," it read.

According to latest estimates, over 4,000 people have been killed due to the deadly earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.

At least 4,372 deaths have been confirmed dead according to officials and agencies. Turkey's toll rose to 2,921 as of Tuesday morning, according to Yunus Sezer, Turkey's head of disaster services.

A total of 15,834 injuries have been reported, Sezer said in a news conference in Ankara. Sezer said he would provide a more comprehensive update at 6 am local time (10 pm ET). In Syria, 1,451 deaths and 3,531 injuries have been reported by officials, reported CNN. Biden noted that US teams are deploying quickly to support Turkish search and rescue efforts and coordinate other assistance that may be required by people affected by the earthquakes, including health services or basic relief items, added the readout.

The earthquake -- felt as far away as Lebanon, Jordan, Israel and Egypt -- occurred in Kahramanmaras province, north of Gaziantep, near the Syrian border. Rescue efforts are ongoing, and the number of people killed, injured and displaced probably will climb, reported Washington Post. -- ANI

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