The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that its relief efforts in Türkiye were continuing with the coordination provided by the TRNC’s various missions in the country.

The Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that all missions in Türkiye under the coordination of the TRNC Embassy in Ankara have been working round the clock since the first earthquake to assist and rescue citizens in the earthquake-stricken areas.

“Our missions have been in close contact with TRNC AFAD, coordination efforts on the ground. This coordination has also been carried out with the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation. The necessary efforts to reach our citizens, to provide accommodation, medical assistance, food and other needs as well as to repatriate them are underway,” the statement read.

It pointed out that the Turkish Ambassador to Ankara as well as foreign ministry consulates and staff stationed in Gaziantep and Mersin were dispatched to Adıyaman, Kahramanmaraş and Hatay to assist in search and rescue as well as relief efforts for TRNC citizens.

“The foreign ministry has successfully transferred citizens from Adana, Adıyaman, Gaziantep, Kahramanmaraş, Kilis, Osmaniye, Malatya and Hatay via Adana back to the island,” the ministry said, adding that citizens recovering in hospital were also provided assistance.

The statement also said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also launched an initiative with the Turkish Foreign Ministry for the collection of samples from the İsias Hotel where 35 TRNC citizens died and for the launch of a criminal investigation.

“While our efforts continue to assist our citizens we would like to once again express our support to motherland Türkiye,” the statement concluded.