ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Navy ship NASR arrived in the Turkish city of Mersin on Monday after completing its Humanitarian and Disaster Relief (HADR) mission in Syria a day earlier, the navy’s media wing said in a statement.

Officials in Turkiye and Syria say over 50,000 combined deaths took place in parts of the two countries when they were jolted by a 7.8-magnitude earthquake on February 6. Hundreds of buildings and structures in both countries collapsed while thousands were injured.

In Syria, the disaster added to the misery of people suffering from the consequences of 12 years of civil war, with more than 4 million people reliant on aid before the earthquake struck.

Pakistan stepped up relief efforts for quake victims in Turkiye and Syria immediately after the quake. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited Turkiye last month and met with victims of the devastating earthquake. Pakistan has also been transporting relief items, mainly winterized tents, to Turkiye via a special flight operation to help out its quake victims.

“Pakistan Navy Ship NASR, deployed on international Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) mission reached Mersin, Turkiye after completing relief mission in Syria,” the Director-General Public Relations (Pakistan Navy) said in its statement.

It added that the ship would provide relief goods weighing 200 tons to Turkish officials for earthquake victims. A second shipment of relief goods is scheduled to reach Mersin on-board another Pakistan Navy Ship MOAWIN on March 23, it added.

NASR was accorded a warm welcome by the governor of Mersin, Turkiye government representatives, the ambassador of Pakistan to Turkiye and Turkish Naval officials, Pakistan Navy said.

“Earlier during stay at port Lattakia of Syria from 13-19 March, the ship disembarked huge quantity of relief goods comprising winterized camps, blankets, warm cloths, ration, medicines and generators,” the navy said.

Pakistan Navy said its team had also established a medical camp and provided medical support to a local dispensary in Syria.

“The ongoing HADR mission by PN ships is manifestation of PN resolve of continuing all out efforts to support the people of brotherly countries of Syria and Turkiye in line with the directions of the Government of Pakistan,” it added.