The death toll of Palestinians from the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake which hit Türkiye and Syria at dawn last Monday has reached 73 after the bodies of one Palestinian and his wife were recovered from under the rubble in Türkiye on Thursday.
According to the official Palestinian News Agency, WAFA, 22 Palestinians were killed in the deadly earthquake in Türkiye and 51 others in Syria.
Meanwhile, Palestine's Rapid Response and Rescue team, supervised by the Palestinian Agency for International Cooperation (PICA), headed Thursday to both countries to take part in ongoing quake relief efforts.
Local officials said the team of 73 members departed through the Jordanian crossing border. It includes rescuers, doctors, and first-aid providers from the Palestine Red Crescent Society.
“Palestine stands ready to use all its available means to help the brothers in Türkiye and Syria in this calamity,” Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki said in a ceremony before the team’s departure.
He said the team will split into two groups, with one heading to Türkiye and the other to Syria.
“Upon their arrival in the areas affected by the earthquake, the Palestinian urgent response team will be working with other international teams working in field hospitals, and will also participate in rescue and evacuation operations in coordination with the relevant authorities in the two countries,” the Minister affirmed.
Also, Palestinian Minister of Awqaf and Religious Affairs Sheikh Hatem Al-Bakri announced that a relief campaign will kick off next Friday for the victims of the earthquake under the slogan “Rescue Them.”
In a press release, he said the campaign will collect donations in mosques after Friday prayers.
“The Ministry of Awqaf will donate $100,000 to the campaign,” he affirmed, adding that the ministry has also formed a committee to arrange the delivery of donations through the Palestinian embassies in Syria and Türkiye, according to the legal procedures.
