KUWAIT: First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Interior and Acting Minister of Defense Sheikh Talal Khaled Al-Sabah has applauded the humanitarian efforts made by the rescue team of Kuwait Fire Force (KFF) in Turkey. He received the rescue team members who arrived back from the mission in Turkey on Saturday and appreciated their gracious efforts, according to a statement from the KFF.

Sheikh Talal also thanked the employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their work in easing and facilitating the tasks of their delegates and the Embassy in Turkey, including the Health and Communications Ministry's involvement, along with the Air Force's efforts. In attendance was KFF's Chief, Khaled Al-Mekrad, and Battalion Chief Jamal Nasser, along with Turkish Ambassador Touba Sonmez, the Air Force's Assistant Commander Vice Marshal Bandar Al-Muzain, and a number of Firefighters and Airman.

Meanwhile, Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) said its team distributed humanitarian aid to the families displaced by the recent powerful earthquake on the outskirts of Kilis city, south central Turkey. The emergency relief, including tents, blankets, heating appliances and foodstuffs, comes as part of the "Kuwait by Your Side" campaign in keeping with the instructions of the political leadership of Kuwait, said head of KRCS mission in Turkey Nabil Al-Hafeth.

The Society's field team, who toured the hard-hit areas in Turkey to assess the needs of the population there, decided to distribute 450 meals on a daily basis, he told KUNA. "The KRCS team is working with Turkish Red Crescent to provide housing, healthcare, sanitation, and food assistance to the displaced people," Al-Hafeth noted, adding that the aid signals "Kuwait's solidarity with sisterly Turkey." The death toll has reportedly jumped to over 40,000 from the magnitude-7.7 earthquake that rocked southern Turkey and northern Syria on Monday, February 6, besides extensive material damage. - KUNA