Airlines and ocean carriers have announced various aid to support the victims of the deadly earthquake that occurred in the border area between Turkey and Syria on February 6.
Emirates has announced the launch of a humanitarian airbridge to transport emergency aid to victims of the earthquake with the International Humanitarian City (IHC) to transport urgent relief supplies, medical items and equipment to support on-ground aid efforts and search and rescue activities in both countries.
The first shipments are due to go out today on EK 121 and EK 117, consisting of high thermal blankets and family tents from UNHCR, followed by World Health Organisation (WHO) and World Food Programme (WFP) relief cargo of medical kits and shelter items, coordinated by the IHC in Dubai.
Emirates said in the coming days, more consignments of blankets, tents, shelter kits, flashlights, water distribution ramps and trauma and emergency health kits would be transported on Emirates.
"Emirates SkyCargo plans to dedicate cargo space for around 100 tonnes of humanitarian relief goods over the course of the next two weeks across its daily flight operations to Istanbul," the carrier said, adding that the critical emergency supplies carried by Emirates will then be delivered by local organisations to affected areas in southern Turkey and northern Syria.
CMA CGM also announced a humanitarian flight from France to Türkiye.
"A CMA CGM AIR CARGO A330-200F aircraft, made available free of charge, will take off on Sunday from Paris-CDG to Gaziantep airport to transport the civil security field hospital deployed by the French Civil Security," the French logistics company said.
It added that this new emergency aid operation would be carried out within the framework of the partnership between the CMA CGM Foundation and the Crisis and Support Center of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs.
In addition, it said the CMA CGM Foundation is preparing its contribution to a humanitarian operation for the populations affected by the earthquake in Syria in conjunction with non-governmental organizations and the United Nations.
Separately, Lufthansa said a Lufthansa Cargo Boeing 777 freighter would bring urgently needed relief supplies to the crisis region.
The Boeing 777 freighter departed Frankfurt (FRA) on February 10 to Fraport TAV Airport Antalya (AYT).
The freighter took off fully loaded with relief supplies, mainly winter clothing, blankets, food and hygiene items, which are most urgently needed on the ground.
The carrier noted that the donations in kind came from Turkish communities in Hesse and Baden-Württemberg, from companies in the region and from Lufthansa Cargo employees.
Meanwhile, Zim Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. (ZIM) also announced that it is gearing up to help the victims of the earthquake in Turkey.
ZIM, through its representative office in Izmir, Turkey, donated and sent containers loaded with humanitarian aid and equipment as a first phase in an aid effort for the victims of the earthquake in Turkey.
The ocean carrier said the containers have already arrived in the affected areas and contain, among other essential goods, baby food and other emergency rations.
