Greece provides aid to quake-stricken Türkiye, Syria

ATHENS, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Greek state and people have been mobilized to provide humanitarian aid to Türkiye and Syria following this week's devastating earthquakes that have resulted in thousands of casualties.

On the order of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Greece has offered to the two affected countries 90 tonnes of health and medical equipment and basic necessities, such as 7,500 blankets, 1,500 beds and 500 tents.

Türkiye's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu welcomed the first shipment of humanitarian aid on Thursday in Adana, according to Greece's Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Ministry.

Four such flights departed from Greece for Türkiye on Thursday and Friday.

The first three trucks of the Hellenic Red Cross loaded with 40 tonnes of humanitarian aid also started their journey to Türkiye from Athens on Friday.

They carry tents, blankets, sleeping bags, personal hygiene items, bottled water and long shelf-life food products to be delivered to the Turkish Red Crescent.

The second mission will reach Syria and many more will follow, the President of the Hellenic Red Cross, Antonios Avgerinos, said.

The Central Union of Municipalities, the Greek Orthodox Church and various associations and non-governmental organizations across the country are also collecting aid, such as clothing and pharmaceuticals.

The entrance of the Athens City Hall on Friday was filled with boxes of donated aid "to support our fellow human beings in Türkiye and Syria, who are currently suffering," Katerina Gagaki, vice mayor for social solidarity and civil society of the City of Athens, told Xinhua.