Malaysia will send over $2 million (RM8.6 million) to Turkiye and Syria to assist victims of the strong earthquake that struck the two countries early Monday.
Photo via New Straits Times
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stated that the Malaysian government has agreed to donate US$1 million for the purpose, with the Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar, contributing the remaining US$1 million.
At the same time, he stated that the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council had allocated RM1 million in humanitarian aid, the majority of which would be directed to Turkey and Syria.
According to The Sun Daily, the 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck southern Turkey and northern Syria early Monday morning, destroying buildings and killing thousands of people in both countries. The tremors were reported to have been felt in Cyprus and Lebanon.
Meanwhile, Anwar stated that Malaysia had sent its second Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) to Turkiye tonight to assist with search and rescue (SAR) operations.
The National Disaster Management Agency's (NADMA) team will include 70 members of SMART and the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department.
"This is because the first team was so effective that the Turkish government requested more," he explained.
As a sign of Malaysian solidarity with those affected by the disaster, the first SMART team was deployed last Monday (6 February) to assist in SAR operations in Turkiye.
