BICOM

Turkey has made an official request to Israel for assistance following the devastating earthquake that recently struck in the eastern part of the country. This request was made despite earlier media reports that Ankara had refused an offer of help from Israel immediately following the earthquake. Approximately 432 people are so far reported to have died in the quake, with 1352 injured. Turkey has asked Israel to transfer mobile housing units to help house those left homeless. The Foreign Ministry in Israel is currently in the process of facilitating the transfer. No request for aid in the form of manpower has been made. The need for housing units and tents is particularly acute at the moment, because a shortage of such equipment in Turkey has left a large number of people without shelter. This in turn is fuelling anger against the Turkish government from among survivors of the earthquake.

Former Israeli officials in Ankara in the media have counselled against any expectation of major diplomatic progress as a result of the aid request and Israel’s positive response to it.