President Ersin Tatar on Tuesday praised the Turkish Cypriot people for the unity and solidarity they have been displaying following the devastating earthquakes that hit Türkiye’s southern areas last week.

Speaking during a visit to the Disaster Aid Collection Centre set up at the Atatürk Sports Hall in Lefkoşa, Tatar said that the Turkish Cypriot people were with the Republic of Türkiye always and under all conditions.

“Their pain is our pain,” Tatar said, stating that an incredible aid campaign was going on in the TRNC.

He pointed out that so far 90 trucks loaded with basic supplies, clothing and other donations had been sent to Türkiye over the last 7-8 days.

“In addition to the aid sent, we have volunteers, businessmen, and contractors who have been working round the clock, contributing to the efforts,” he said, adding that these efforts included the sending of heavy machinery used in recovery efforts.

The president also reminded that the government had signed a protocol with the Cyprus Turkish Solidarity Platform for the construction of a container city that will accommodate over 5000 people.

“These containers, a thousand of them, will be built by our institutions and enterprises from scratch. We have all mobilized to assist Türkiye to recover from this catastrophe. I would like to thank the people for the solidarity they are displaying and hope that the assistance will continue,” he said.

Tatar also said that the names of the Turkish Cypriot children from Gazimağusa Türk Maarif College who perished in the earthquake will not be forgotten.

“We have a duty to keep the memory of these children alive. Once again I would like to say that I am sharing their sorrow and grief. The government has produced a series of decisions to keep their memories alive. Let everyone rest assure, the state will do its part,” he added.

President Ersin Tatar also pointed out that earthquake survivors who had first degree relatives who are TRNC citizens will be granted residency permits.