Turkish aid arrives in Kurdistan Region following earthquake
After at least 400 people were killed and nearly 7,000 people were hurt in a 7.2-magnitude earthquake that hit the Iran-Iraqi Kurdistan border yesterday, Turkey has pushed aside its anger over the Kurdish independence efforts and stepped in to help.
Setting aside its wrath over Iraqi Kurdistan’s ill-fated referendum on independence, Turkey was the first foreign country to respond with aid for thousands of victims of a massive earthquake that struck near Iraq’s border with Iran on Sunday.
A military cargo plane carrying medical supplies, doctors and a search-and-rescue team arrived in the Iraqi Kurdish city of Sulaimaniyah today, and an aid convoy of 50 trucks crossed through the Habur border gate.
“I wish a speedy recovery to the people of Iraq. … I offer my condolences,” said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan before setting off for the Russian city of Sochi, where he is scheduled to hold talks with President Vladimir Putin. “As you know, in such times of difficulty, Turkey always rushes to the side of its brothers in the region,” he added.
Some Iraqi Kurdish leaders appear to entertain hopes that the earthquake may lead to a thaw with Turkey. The prime minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Nechirvan Barzani, acknowledged Turkey’s help during a news conference today. An Iraqi Kurdish official told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that contacts with Erdogan’s office had resumed. More critically, the official added, Ankara has said that the military drills it has been conducting, widely seen as a show of force against Iraqi Kurdistan’s independence moves, have now been concluded. “That is huge,” the official said.
