The Turkish representative to Taiwan on Wednesday thanked Taiwan’s government and its people for their donations as well as sending search and rescue teams in the aftermath of a magnitude-7.8 earthquake that struck the country and neighboring Syria early Monday, with the confirmed death toll having already passed 5,000.
Speaking to the press while attending a “Pray for Turkey” event in Taipei, Muhammed Berdibek, representative of the Turkish Trade Office in Taipei, said the quake was “one of the biggest disasters of not only our Republican history, but also of our region and the world.”
Immediately after the earthquake, more than 70 countries and 14 international organizations offered aid to Turkey, including Taiwan, he noted.
“In this regard, I would like to thank Taiwan for their solid and immediate support including sending two rescue teams, totaling 130 people and 5 dogs, for rescue and relief efforts,” he said.
He also expressed gratitude for a pledge by Taiwan’s government to donate US$2 million.
The envoy said one day after his office issued a call for people in Taiwan to make in-kind donations to help survivors of the deadly quake, the office had received over 2,800 messages and phone calls as of noon Wednesday.
“I am surprised and really grateful to Taiwanese people for their goodwill and kindnesses,” he said.
However, Berdibek also noted that the office is still looking for a warehouse to make it easier for people to give in-kind donations and simplify processing before the items are sent to Turkey.
The representative said the office will soon make public more details of such arrangements.
The office previously said donations of winter clothing for both adults and children, such as overcoats, pants, sweaters, gloves, scarfs, mufflers, socks, underwear, beret/beanie hats, boots and raincoats are urgently needed to assist those affected by the earthquake.
Other necessities including beds, sleeping pads, sleeping bags, mattresses, blankets, thermoses, flashlights, diapers, sanitary pads, and cleaning and hygiene items are also very welcome, it added.
Meanwhile, Ugur Rifat Karlova, a Turkish-born Taipei-based TV show host told reporters at the same event Wednesday that although he is not from the areas most seriously affected by the earthquake, he has friends who have lost family members during the disaster.
Turkey and Taiwan have shared experiences of strong earthquakes and Taiwanese people are sympathetic about such tragedies, he said.
“I would like to thank you for all of your support and hopefully we will be able to save those that are still trapped in the collapsed building,” he added.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel