By Erbil Basar
BERLIN (AA) - German pharmaceutical companies on Monday pledged to channel urgently needed medical aid to Türkiye.
“I can feel what Türkiye feels as I have many friends and relatives there,” Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said in a meeting that was attended by Turkish Ambassador Ahmet Basar Sen and representatives of pharmaceutical companies.
He said authorities will cut through bureaucratic red tape to ensure that the medical aid can be sent quickly.
The Health Ministry will also send 150 respirators and 150 bedside monitors, the minister added.
Sen expressed gratitude for the German nation’s solidarity, saying it showed the close ties between the two countries.
He also thanked the minister and German rescuers for their efforts, adding that such support will help Türkiye overcome the effects of the devastating Feb. 6 quakes.
The magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 tremors affected 11 southern Turkish provinces – Kahramanmaras, Adana, Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Hatay, Gaziantep, Malatya, Kilis, Osmaniye, Elazig, and Sanliurfa – and have so far claimed more than 41,000 lives.