Two days after devastating earthquake in Turkey, Ankara submits requests with Israel for transfer of mobile homes to disaster-stricken area in Van, as winter overtakes the earthquake region.

Ankara / NationalTurk – Turkey government claimed on Tuesday that it was ready to accept international aid, including Israel for ‘the reconstruction of the quake-hit region in eastern Anatolia.’

Turkish diplomatic sources stated earlier last day there was need for tents, prefabricated houses and living containers for “the reconstruction phase that will follow search and rescue efforts.”

Turkish Foreign Ministry has informed Turkish foreign mission chiefs to countries and international organizations which had earlier offered help to Turkey.

Japan became the first country to respond to the Turkish call as the Japanese embassy in Ankara has said Japanese International Cooperation Agency had moved to send around 400 thousand U.S. dollars to Turkey.

Turkey has requested Israel for assistence, two days after a devastating 7.2-magnitude earthquake hit the eastern part of the country, though Turkey had ‘ kindly ‘ refused Israel help earlier.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry submitted an official request with Jerusalem for the transfer of mobile housing units. The request was transferred from the Turkish Foreign Ministry to the Israeli Embassy in Ankara, which immediately notified the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem. Immediately after the earthquake struck on Sunday Israeli Foreign Minister Lieberman instructed his office to prepare to send aid to Turkey. President Shimon Peres also called his Turkish counterpart Abduallah Gul in order to offer Israel’s assistance. However, Ankara rejected the bid from Israel.

Turkey has been showered with offers of outside aid since the earthquake, but at first only accepted help from neighbouring Iran, Bulgaria and Azerbaijan. However, a foreign ministry official said on Tuesday that it had now requested prefabricated housing and tents from more than 30 countries, including Israel. As of now, Turkey has not requested help in the form of manpower.

Officials: Turkey Earthquake toll reaches 459

Earlier on Tuesday, Turkish officials said the death toll has reached 459, adding that 1,352 people were injured in Sunday’s quake.

Turkey Earthquake : Red Crescent tent distribution gets chaotic

Survivors, many of whom have been forced to huddle round small fires in the open, accused Erdogan of putting international diplomacy before his own citizens.

“There is absolutely no coordination, you have to step on people to get a tent. The Prime Minister should take care of his own people before going to Somalia and Libya,” said jobless 18-year-old Suleyman Akbulut.

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