Iraqi Parliament calls for reception of earthquake victims from Turkey, Syria

 Iraqi Parliament calls for reception of earthquake victims from Turkey, Syria

Turkish rescue teams during rescue operations in Diyarbakir, Turkey. Photo: Sputnik

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Iraqi parliament called on the government on Tuesday to open the borders to receive the victims of the earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria, killing more than four thousand people and injuring about 23 thousand.

We received with great sadness the news about the earthquakes that struck Syria and Turkey, a statement issued by the Iraqi parliament.

The statement added that the Iraqi parliament expresses its sincere condolences and support for the people of both Syria and Turkey.

The Iraqi parliament also called on the government to form a joint operations room to receive the wounded and provide the possible assistance.

A devastating earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale struck southern Turkey and northern Syria early on Monday, while the aftershocks reached other countries in the region, and were felt by residents in Lebanon and Iraq.

The earthquake killed more than four thousand people, injured about 23 thousand, and resulted in the collapse of many buildings and damages in the infrastructure facilities in both Turkey and Syria.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that the number of people affected by the devastating earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria is about 23 million.

Rescue operations are still underway to search for survivors under huge piles of rubble in the quake-hit areas.