NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 7 – Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua has called on Kenyans to donates foodstuff, clothes and money to aid those affected by earthquake in Turkey and Syria that has so far killed over 5,000 people.
Speaking during a joint media address with the Turkish Ambassador to Kenya, CS Mutua said that a collection point will be announced where the mobilized resources will be channeled.
“We share the pain with the people of Turkey and Syria, we join the international community in praying and condoling with the two countries. As good people of Kenya we can’t just sit we have to offer our assistance,” he stated.
Mutua said as part of showing solidarity with the two affected nations, Kenya will be sending them tea, coffee and cashew nuts.
The CS reported that so far no Kenyan has been affected by the tragedy, but said a distress number has been put together so that incase any Kenyan is stranded can reach out.
The number issued is 905385020960.
In Turkey, the number of people who’ve died because of these earthquakes has risen to 3,381, according to the country’s disaster authority.
Orhan Tatar, an official at the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), says a further 20,426 have been injured and 5,775 buildings collapsed.
The new count brings the combined death toll in Turkey and neighboring Syria to 4,890.