Kazakh President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, at the Turkish embassy in Astana.
Kazakh President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, at the Turkish embassy in Astana.

President Tokayev visited the Turkish embassy in Astana, offered all-around rescue and medical assistance to the earthquake casualties, and express condolences “to all the fraternal Turkish people”.

Astana, 8 February 2023. Kazakhstan’s Head of State, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, charged the Government to allocate emergency aid to earthquake-stricken Turkey. Tokayev visited today the Turkish Embassy in Astana and expressed sympathy and support for the fraternal people in connection with the catastrophic consequences of the strong earthquake in southeast Turkey.

President Tokayev announced that Kazakhstan would provide all-around assistance to Turkey, and instructed the Kazakh government to allocate an initial budget of million dollars for immediate emergency assistance. Tokyev left an entry in the Turkish embassy’s book of condolences: “We are deeply shocked by the news of the numerous human casualties as a result of the devastating earthquake in Turkey. On behalf of the people of Kazakhstan and on my own behalf, I express my condolences to all the fraternal Turkish people,” he wrote.

Indeed, Kazakhstan’s government started mobilizing rescue and medical personnel to assist those affected by the deadly earthquake on the spot. Kazakh Ministry of Emergency noted on February 7th that “Rescuers of the Kazakh national operational rescue team and medical workers left Almaty with rescue vehicles and rescue and medical equipment, including numerous hydraulic and pneumatic tools, lighting devices, tents, and service dogs of canine units to help Turkish earthquake victims.

Meanwhile, The Kazakh embassy in Ankara is taking measures to evacuate its nationals from Turkey which suffered from a series of major earthquakes since Monday, February 6. A very strong 7.7 earthquake, centered in the Pazarcik district, jolted Kahramanmaras, in southeastern Turkey. Kazakhstanis currently staying in Turkey can depart at the airport in Gaziantep. Notably, there are no Kazakhstani nationals among earthquake victims.

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