By Balqis Jazimah Zahari
KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with The National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) held the first Task Force Coordination meeting with about 28 Malaysian NGOs yesterday morning.
Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir briefed the task force on the need to coordinate in delivering aid to the victims in Turkey and Syria.
”At the same time, our first batch of the SMART team has safely arrived in Gaziantep, which is the area closest to the disaster site.
”They are awaiting instructions from local authorities before proceeding with further operations,” he said in a statement on his Facebook, regarding the current situation of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria.
Zambry said the Turkish government has contacted the Malaysian government to request additional assistance to be sent there, given the dire situation.
”God willing, tonight (last night) we will send another team to participate in the search and rescue mission in Turkey,” he said.
He said his party will also continue to monitor the current situation of Malaysians who are at the affected locations.
”I advise Malaysians to always be vigilant and contact the Malaysian Embassy or Consulate there to get the latest information,” he said.
