PM Barzani welcomes home Kurdish relief teams
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Sunday welcomed the Kurdish rescue and relief teams that had been dispatched to quake-stricken areas in Syria and Turkey.
“I am here to welcome you all back and extend my heartfelt appreciation,” PM Barzani said and noted, “your work” exemplifies our people’s duty to humanitarian assistance and charity, and shows the world “we are a peace-loving people.”
PM Barzani added, “Kurds around the world are proud of you.”
He also acknowledged the assistance of others in “our time of need” and said we will never forget their help at those difficult times. We will remain committed to help those in need, wherever they may be.
"What you did goes beyond search and rescue efforts; you served as our ambassadors, carrying the goodwill of the Kurdish people," Barzani later wrote in a tweet.
What you did goes beyond search and rescue efforts; you served as our ambassadors, carrying the goodwill of the Kurdish people.
— Masrour Barzani (@masrourbarzani) February 19, 2023
Whenever we can, and whatever our means, we help.
That’s the Kurdish story.
Thank you and welcome home -mb. pic.twitter.com/NVzLfaLxRB
Turkey's southern provinces and Syria were struck by earthquakes of 7.8 magnitudes on February 6, with aftershocks felt as far as Cairo, Egypt. Residents in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, too, felt the impact, particularly those living in high-rises.
After the earthquakes, PM Barzani was the first to send rescue and relief teams from the Ministry of Health and Barzani Charity Foundation (BCF) to assist rescue efforts in Turkey and Syria.
In solidarity with victims of the earthquake, I have instructed govt bodies, the Health Ministry and the @BarzaniCF to collaborate with the Red Crescent and assist in rescue efforts in Turkey and Syria.
— Masrour Barzani (@masrourbarzani) February 6, 2023
As of now, three rescue teams backed by 25 ambulances have been organized.