People sit next to rubble at the site of a collapsed building following an earthquake in Kahramanmaras, Turkey, February 8, 2023. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem
MANILA, Philippines — Turkey expressed appreciation on Thursday to the Philippines, saying that they are “deeply moved” after the latter provided assistance to the earthquake-hit nation.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said that the Philippines will send an 85-man team to help Turkey after the nation experienced a magnitude 7.8 earthquake on February 6.
“I am very grateful for the decision of the government of the Philippines, President Marcos Jr., his leadership. We truly appreciate his leadership in facilitating the dispatch of the search and rescue team and dispatch of aid materials as well,” Turkish Ambassador to the Philippines Niyazi Akyol said on ANC Headstart.
“We are deeply moved by the contribution of the Philippines and I am also grateful to the Cabinet secretaries involved in this effort and, of course, each and every member of the institutions of government of the Philippines. We are deeply moved and truly grateful for this generous aid in our time of need,” he added.
Aside from the 85-man team, the Philippine government will also give aid such as blankets and winter clothing.
To date, the death toll of the tremor that hit Turkey and Syria is now on the 12,000 mark.