UN sends tents to Turkey quake victims

The United Nations said on Thursday that after an appeal from Ankara for relief, it had sent thousands of tents to Turkey for those made homeless by the recent deadly 7.2-magnitude earthquake, Hurriyet Daily News reports.

 "Following the government's call for international assistance in the form of tents and prefabricated houses, OCHA has donated 400 family-sized tents which arrived in Erzurum last night," Elisabeth Byrs, spokeswoman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said.

 "Erzurum has been identified as the receiving hub of international assistance coming in by air," she added.

 In addition, the UN refugees agency has donated 4,000 tents, 50,000 blankets and 10,000 bed mats while the UN Population Fund has given 250 tents.