Saudi Arabia sends more relief aid planes to earthquake-hit Turkey and Syria

 The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has sent three more relief aid planes to earthquake-hit areas in Turkey and Syria in order to help earthquake victims. 

According to the state agency SPA (Saudi Press Agency), the fourth and fifth planes, carrying search and rescue teams and equipment, including tools, pumps, and medical supplies, landed at the Gaziantep airport in Turkey on Friday. The sixth plane, carrying 98 tons of relief aid, including food items, tents, blankets, rugs, shelter bags, and medical supplies, also landed in Turkey to help earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria. 

The search-and-rescue teams, which came from the General Directorate of Civil Defense and the Saudi Red Crescent Authority, went to earthquake-hit areas in Turkey and Syria in order to evacuate citizens.

Meanwhile, a statement from the Saudi Arabia embassy in Turkey said that the body of a missing Saudi female was found under the rubble of a building in Antakya, the capital of Hatay Province, the southernmost province of Turkey. Reportedly, her body was identified in the presence of a representative from the Saudi embassy and some of her family members.

Earlier, Saudi Arabia sent over SR13 million in relief aid to Turkey and Syria. Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) also launched a fundraising campaign to collect money for earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria. Over 95,000 people have already donated to help earthquake victims. The donations would provide shelter, food and treatment to those affected by the earthquake. 

On Tuesday, King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman directed KSrelief to operate an air bridge in order to provide relief aid to the victims of the 7.8-magnitude earthquake.

King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also offered their condolences to Turkey and Syria after the destructive earthquake wreaked havoc in these two countries.