Vietnam commits US$200,000 in aid for earthquake-hit Turkey, Syria

Vietnam has pledged US$200,000 in relief aid to earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh made the commitment in letters sent on February 14 to the Presidents and parliamentary leaders of Turkey and Syria.

Vietnam has already sent rescue teams to Turkey. Photo courtesy of the People's Army Newspaper

The head of the Government affirmed that Vietnam would continue to provide support to the two quake-affected countries in the future.

Previously, two rescue teams with a total of 100 military and police personnel, along with equipment, had been sent to Turkey to join the search and rescue operations in the country.

The first group of 24 rescuers and medical workers from the Ministry of Public Security left Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport for Turkey on February 9, while the second group of 76 army men departed on February 12. On this occasion, Vietnam brought 10 tons of military rations to donate to Turkey.  

Vietnamese embassies in Turkey, Iran, and Syria have been closely monitoring the situation, sending officials to the sites to support rescue teams, provide essential goods, and assist victims of natural disasters.

Devastating earthquakes on February 6 have killed more than 41,000 people in Turkey and Syria as of February 15, Reuters reported.

Nearly 9 million people in Syria were affected by the disaster and the United Nations said humanitarian agencies will need $397.6 million to respond to "the most pressing humanitarian needs" over the next three months.

Meanwhile, the United Nations said the number of people affected by the quake might hit 23 million.