South Africa will send a consignment of humanitarian aid to Algeria over the weekend following Wednesday’s earthquake which has killed about 1 600 people, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Friday.
It said in a statement that Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma had given the green light for emergency relief to be sent to the north African country.
Thousands are believed to be still trapped under tons of concrete and rubble, especially in the towns of Boumerdes, Reghaia and Rouiba, which lie on the eastern outskirts of the capital Algiers.
The department said the relief package consisted of among others, sniffer dogs, medical supplies, medical personnel and equipment to detect bodies trapped under buildings.
The first batch of aid will depart for Algeria on Saturday, from the Waterkloof Airforce Base in Pretoria under the command of Colonel Willis Nkosi.
Nkosi will lead a delegation that will include representatives of NGOs Global Relief and Rescue Africa and several volunteer engineers from across the country.
The foreign affairs department would co-ordinate the aid package in conjunction with the SANDF, the SA Police Service and the Department of Health.
The department said Dlamini-Zuma expressed, on behalf of the government, her gratitude to members of civil society who came forth to offer their services.
”This response is an indication of the close bonds of friendship and solidarity that exists between the peoples of Algeria and South Africa,” she said. ‒ Sapa