Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Friday announced that it would send emergency assistance to Turkey and Iran following the devastating earthquakes in the region. The aid is being sent in response to requests from both Turkey and Iran.

Japan will provide emergency relief goods (tents, blankets and sleeping pads) through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for Turkey to support people affected by the earthquakes that struck the country on Monday.

Japan will also provide emergency relief goods (blankets) through JICA to Iran “in light of the humanitarian perspective and the close relations between Japan and the Islamic Republic of Iran.” A major earthquake hit the city of Khoy, West Azerbaijan Province, in northwest Iran on January 28.

According to the UNRCO, three people died, 1,445 people were injured and more than 260,000 people were affected in other ways.

Quakes of magnitude 7.8 and 7.5 struck Turkey on Monday, collapsing many buildings and leaving at least 20,000 people dead.