CIDCA spokesperson: China provides emergency assistance to Turkiye, Syria for earthquake relief

On Feb 8, Xu Wei, spokesperson for the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), briefed on China's emergency humanitarian assistance to Turkiye and Syria in response to the earthquake.

A 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Turkiye in the early hours of Feb 6, causing heavy casualties and damage to property in both Turkiye and Syria. The Chinese president has sent messages of condolences to the heads of state of both countries. 

Xu said that both Turkiye and Syria are good friends with China, and that China feels for the suffering of the two countries in the aftermath of the earthquake and is offering its full assistance. He officially announced that the CIDCA is ready to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to the two countries, and that they have wasted no time in initiating the process. The CIDCA's vice-chairman has met the ambassadors of the two countries to China to express condolences and briefed them on China's assistance details.

According to Xu, China has decided to dispatch a heavy urban rescue team to Turkiye's quake-hit area and will provide 40 million yuan ($5.90 million) of emergency assistance to Turkiye, and 30 million yuan of emergency assistance to Syria. The Chinese rescue team, composed of 82 members, has already arrived in Adana, a southern city in Turkiye, on the early morning of Feb 8 local time. They brought 20 tons of equipment and supplies to help conduct rescues, establish communications and provide medical care, as well as four rescue dogs, and immediately joined the rescue effort.

He said that the CIDCA is in close contact with relevant departments to speed up the ongoing food assistance programs, including the 220 tons of wheat currently on its way to Syria. Meanwhile, Chinese people from all walks of life are extending a helping hand to Turkiye and Syria. According to him, the Red Cross Society of China has provided the Red Crescents of each country with assistance of $200,000. Chinese enterprises and Chinese people in Turkiye are preparing tents, blankets and other relief supplies.

The Chinese government will continue to provide relief, resettlement and reconstruction assistance to Turkiye and Syria within its capacity, in response to the development of the disaster situation and the actual needs, Xu noted.