AU Convoys Condolences over Deadly Earthquakes in Türkiye, Syria
African leaders expressed condolences and solidarity with Türkiye and Syria over the deadly earthquakes that hit parts of the two countries.
The first magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Türkiye brought down buildings as people slept and was followed by a magnitude 7.6 tremor nine hours later. The tremors, which occurred amid several aftershocks, were also felt in northern Syria and several countries in the region.
Turkish officials called the quakes the “biggest disaster” since the 1939 Erzincan earthquake in the last century.
Today, President Tayyip Erdogan said 3,549 people have so far been confirmed dead from the earthquakes in Türkiye.
This and more than 1,600 people killed by the quakes in Syria have brought the death toll to more than 5,000.
‘Africa stands in solidarity’
Following the earthquakes, condolences poured in from Africa and around the world expressing solidarity with Türkiye and Syria.
The African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat expressed his “deep shock and sorrow” alongside the world community.
“Africa stands in unwavering solidarity and sorrow with the government and people of Türkiye and Syria,” he said.
Similar solidarity messages were also sent to both affected countries by leaders of African countries.
“Our nation and Government are deeply saddened by the unthinkable loss of life in Türkiye and Syria, and by the vast damage to social and economic infrastructure,’’ South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a statement.
He said his heart goes out to the families who have lost loved ones or are searching for relatives. He wished the injured survivors a full recovery.
President of Senegal Macky Sall extended his heartfelt condolences to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad following the earthquake.
“Peace to the souls of the victims and speedy recovery to the injured,” he wrote on Twitter.
PM Abiy: “Deeply saddened”
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said his country stands ready to offer “full support in any way possible” to both quake-hit nations.
Buhari “wishes those injured a speedy recovery and assures that the prayers and thoughts of Nigerians are with the many affected by this severe disaster and its aftershocks,” his spokesman said in a statement.
Ethiopia prime minister Abiy Ahmed also offered his deepest condolences to Türkiye and Syria.
“Deeply saddened by the loss of lives and injuries caused by the earthquake in Southern #Turkiye and #Syria,” Abiy said in a tweet.
“May the deceased rest in peace and affected communities find solace in this difficult period,” he added.
Countries from around the world are sending help as emergency crews are carrying out search and rescue operations.
But the operations are impeded by close to 200 aftershocks, making the search through unstable structures perilous, as per an Al Jazeera report.
The impact area of the quacks covers approximately 110,000 square kilometers, and more than 13.5 million people reside there.
Experts fear the quakes could compound the loss of the region’s cultural legacy as well as major historical sites and monuments in the region known as the cradle of human civilizations.
– EM/AA/AJ
Featured Image: A woman being rescued from under rubble 34 hours today after the quake hit southern Türkiye [Photo Anadolu Agency]
