Sisi expresses Egypt's 'full solidarity' with Syrian & Turkish people, readiness to provide aid after earthquake

Ahram Online , Monday 6 Feb 2023

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has expressed Egypt's "full solidarity" with the people of Syria and Turkey as well as the country's readiness to provide aid to face the impacts of the deadly earthquake that hit southeast Turkey and northern Syria on Monday morning.

Egypt s President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi (Reuters)

"I express my sincere condolences to the people of Syria and Turkey and the families of the victims of this devastating earthquake that struck the Eastern Mediterranean region," El-Sisi said during a press conference alongside the Croatian President Zoran Milanovich who is visiting the Egyptian capital to discuss bilateral relations.

A devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck near the Turkish city of Gaziantep - about 40 kilometres from the Syrian border in the early hours of the day, toppling hundreds of buildings and killing hundreds.

“I confirm Egypt’s full solidarity with the Syrian and Turkish people and our readiness to provide help/aid to face the impacts of this earthquake,” El-Sisi continued, adding "once more, our sincerest condolences and solidarity and our prayers to God for a speedy recovery of the injured.."

Earlier on Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that Egypt is ready to provide assistance to help both Syria and Turkey face the horrifying impacts of the deadly earthquake that struck both countries as well as a number of eastern Mediterranean countries.

Residents of Egypt as far as Cairo – 963 kilometres southwest of Gaziantep – felt seven aftershocks of the quake, according to Gad El-Qadi, chairman of the National Research Institute Of Astronomy & Geophysics.