Brussels: Europe and the Arabs - agencies

The number of victims of the earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria continues to rise, and at the same time, various countries of the world continue to send aid and rescue teams to provide assistance to the authorities in the two countries, while it was announced that aftershocks were monitored in Turkey, amid fears of the consequences of the earthquake.
And Turkish Vice President Fuad Aktay announced today, Tuesday, that at least 312 aftershocks have been recorded in the country so far, warning that seismic activity is still high.
Aktay added - in statements reported by the Turkish TV "TRT World" - that 3,294 search and rescue personnel have already arrived from 14 countries, expressing his gratitude for the extensive relief and international support.
And he announced that the death toll from the earthquake that struck the country yesterday, measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale, had risen to 3,419 dead and 20,534 injured, pointing to the rescue of more than eight thousand people.

On the other hand, in the same context, the Syrian Civil Defense "White Helmets" announced that the death toll from the violent earthquake that struck several provinces in northwestern Syria has risen to 2,990.
The official in the Syrian Civil Defense, Firas Al-Khalifa, said in an exclusive statement to Al-Arabiya Al-Hadath news channel today, Tuesday, that "search and rescue operations are still underway in the areas affected by the earthquake that struck villages and towns near the border with Turkey, which until this moment has resulted in the death of one person." 790 people and more than 2,200 others were injured, some of them in serious condition,” he said, noting that the death toll is likely to rise due to the presence of many families under the rubble, amid many difficulties to extricate them so far.

The Syrian official pointed out that many residential buildings were damaged in the areas that were greatly affected by the earthquake, which left conditions he described as "catastrophic" in northwestern Syria, stressing the need for urgent aid to counter the effects of the devastating earthquake in Syria.

A 7.4-magnitude earthquake hit the region of Turkey and Syria at dawn on Monday, leaving huge losses of lives and property in the two countries.

Today, Tuesday, the countries of the world continued to provide humanitarian aid to earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria.

For its part, the United States pledged to do everything in its power, in coordination with Turkey, to help the victims of the devastating earthquakes in (Ankara) and (Damascus).

And the US State Department stated - in a statement on its website - that US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken made a phone call to his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu; To offer his deepest condolences for the terrible loss of life in the earthquakes, and to discuss ways the United States and our partners can best assist.

Blinken confirmed that (Washington's) initial response to the assistance is already underway, and pledged to do everything in his power in coordination with Turkey to help the earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria, pointing to the need for the humanitarian crossings to Syria to remain open.

For his part, Japanese government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno confirmed, in a press conference, that an advanced unit of disaster relief and rescue teams left Japan last night, heading to Turkey.
The Commander of Joint Operations at the UAE Ministry of Defense, Major General Saleh bin Mejren Al Ameri, confirmed the arrival of 3 military aircraft to Turkey carrying search and rescue teams and medical materials, as part of Operation "The Gallant Knight 2" to support Syria and Turkey in facing the repercussions of the devastating earthquake.

Al-Amiri said - in an exclusive statement to (Sky News) news channel - that seven supply and relief flights are scheduled to be carried out today, including two to Damascus, adding that Operation Gallant Knight is taking place in full coordination with the authorities in Turkey and Syria.

In Iraq, the spokesman for the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, Haider Majeed, indicated that the coming days will witness the sending of other aid to Syria to help those affected by the earthquake.

Majid added, according to (Al-Iraqiya News) channel, that a specialized team from the Civil Defense will be sent to assist in the search for the missing, and in the context, the first Iraqi aid plane arrived at Damascus International Airport, loaded with more than 60 tons of relief materials to help those affected by the earthquake and support Relief operations due to the devastating earthquake.

The Pakistani Prime Minister's office also announced that (Islamabad) has sent the first package of relief materials and rescue teams to Turkey in order to help the victims of the violent earthquake that struck southern Turkey on Monday, leaving thousands dead and injured.

The office stated - in a statement carried by the Turkish TV "TRT World" - that "a C-130 plane carrying a search and rescue team from the Pakistani army took off from the "Chaklala" air base in the city of (Rawalpindi) yesterday evening, noting that A rescue team of 50 people along with 25 tons of relief materials left for Turkey via Pakistan International Airlines flight this morning.

The statement indicated that another C-130 plane carrying seven tons of relief materials, including medicines, tents, blankets and other relief materials, will take off to the Turkish city of (Istanbul) from the city of (Lahore) in northeastern Pakistan later today.