The people of Türkiye survived the February 6 earthquake, which was called the tragedy of the century.

Many countries, non-governmental non-profit organizations have helped Türkiye and its people. Uzbekistan has provided great assistance.

The Government of Türkiye speaks with great warmth of friendship, social assistance and support of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the people of Uzbekistan, institutions and organizations. The Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Tashkent organized a gratitude reception ceremony to symbolically express gratitude to Uzbekistan for assistance and support.

As part of the event, a press conference was held with the participation of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Türkiye to Uzbekistan Olgan Bekar.

“Türkiye has experienced a real tragedy of the century”, the Ambassador said. “Because of the earthquake, we lost 47,475 people, including seven citizens of Uzbekistan. Your country and its people, as in all times, showed their inherent nobility and did not leave us in trouble. On the first day, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, representatives of the Cabinet of Ministers and state organizations came to the Embassy and expressed their condolences. It has become a symbol of our unity and will forever remain in our memory.

From February 6 to 13, six special flights with humanitarian aid were made from Uzbekistan to Türkiye’s Adana, search and rescue teams and doctors arrived. One hundred specialists carried out rescue work in Hatay province.

 “The Embassy coordinated the joint work of the Uzbekistan and Türkiye Business People Association – UTID, the Uzbekistan – Türkiye Business Council, the Independent Council of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs”, the Ambassador said. – With the assistance of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan, three places were organized in Tashkent to collect material assistance.

Two days after the tragedy, doctors from Uzbekistan, and there were 71 people, organized field hospitals in Hatay province and tirelessly assisted the victims. Medical assistance was provided to 3,860 Turkish citizens, including 1,795 men, 1,177 women, and 888 children. In the regions affected by the earthquake, Uzbek culinary specialists organized two meals a day for the victims.

“In such difficult times, any state and society need friends nearby”, says one of the conference participants, Rector of the University of Journalism and Mass Communications of Uzbekistan Sherzodkhon Kudratkhodja. – In Türkiye, people rejoiced at the material and social assistance provided, but they received even greater satisfaction from the fact that there were friends who sympathized with them.

According to the Ambassador, 674 tons of humanitarian aid and $644,000 have been delivered to Türkiye through the air routes of Uzbekistan and Türkiye, MNG Kargo and cargo transport routes. Funding continues.

“I consider it my duty to express my deep gratitude to everyone who assisted in these difficult days for Türkiye”, Ambassador of Türkiye to Uzbekistan Olgan Bekar said.

Abdulaziz Rustamov, UzA