Nepal govt to send relief materials and medical team to quake-hit Turkey

Published On: February 9, 2023 08:30 AM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

KATHMANDU, Feb 9: Nepal has decided to send relief materials and health workers to Turkey, which is devastated by multiple earthquakes.

A meeting of the National Council for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management held at the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers on Wednesday afternoon decided to send essential materials and health workers to Turkey. In the meeting, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal had directed officials concerned to make necessary preparations to extend all possible support to Turkey at this hour of national crisis.

Prime Minister Dahal condoled the loss of life and property and decided to urgently send medical responders with equipment and emergency supplies to Turkey. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has been entrusted with the responsibility to coordinate with relevant government agencies to expedite the process to send the relief materials and search and rescue as well as medical team on an urgent basis.

Officials at the MoFA said Nepal is preparing to send medical items including emergency kits, health workers, warm clothes, mats and tents for temporary shelters to help those affected by the earthquake and its aftershocks.

A 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Turkey's Gaziantep province on Monday. Hundreds of aftershocks have been reported since the major earthquake. Over 6,000 people have been confirmed dead, while hundreds are said to be still missing.

The decision to send relief materials and medical teams came after Foreign Minister Dr Bimala Rai Poudyal held a telephone conversation with her Turkish counterpart Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu. Foreign Minister Dr Poudyal extended condolence to those who lost lives in the earthquake and expressed readiness to extend all possible support to Turkey.

According to her Personal Secretariat, Foreign Minister Dr Poudyal also requested her Turkish counterpart to help relocate Nepali nationals there to safer locations. On the occasion, Turkish Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu had thanked Nepal’s expression of support and solidarity.