THE Turkish government on Wednesday thanked the South African government and citizens for their support following the devastating earth quake that hit the country last month. More than 15000 people were killed and thousands injured and left homeless when the quake hit the Marmara region in north-western Turkey in the early hours of August 17. “As we started dealing with the tragic humanitarian consequences of this astounding calamity, we were gratified to see that our national mobilisation was being supported by a large-scale international relief effort including search and rescue teams, firefighters, doctors and medical teams,” a letter by the Turkish embassy in Pretoria said. South Africa sent 50 professional emergency workers and a group of Turkish speakers to help quake victims. The 50 worked as volunteers and slept on the streets with the victims.
11