The government is planning to send a military contingent consisting of doctors and engineers trained in UN humanitarian operations for humanitarian operations in Turkey which has been affected by the recent earthquake, the Prime Minister’s office said.

A special discussion on the provision of humanitarian aid for the affected Turkish people was held yesterday at the Temple Trees under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena on the instructions of the President.

During the meeting, it was discussed how to provide essential basic facilities and labor contribution to the Turkish people at this moment with the contribution of government institutions, non-government institutions and the private sector.

A committee headed by Prime Minister’s Secretary Anura Dissanayake has been appointed to implement the program.

Also, the possibility of providing humanitarian aid for Syria through Lebanon was discussed during the meeting.

Ministers Ali Sabry and Nasir Ahmed secretaries of ministries, chairmen, and heads of private institutions participated in the meeting.

The death toll from the Turkey-Syria earthquakes has passed 21,500. At least 18,342 people have been killed in Turkey, according to the country’s officials, while at least 3,377 are known to have died in Syria.

source daily mirror