Nechirvan Barzani visits quake-hit areas in Turkey

Nechirvan Barzani visits quake-hit areas in Turkey
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"There is mourning in every home in Kurdistan because of the catastrophe here," Kurdistan Region's president has said.

The president of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) visited Turkey's earthquake-hit city of Antep on Tuesday. He was greeted by a Turkish governor at the coordination center of the Disaser and Emergency Management (AFAD).

Telling a group of reporters that he made the visit to share the grief of the Turkish officials and the nation that is suffering because of the earthquake, President Nechirvan Barzani said:

"There is mourning in every home in Kurdistan because of the catastrophe here. Leisure activities have been cancelled. We have provided aid as much as we could, and we will continue to do so."

He added:

"I'm sure that the hard times will be left behind, by God's will. I believe that the Turkish government and the president will once again overcome this crisis."

Barzani later visited the district of Nurdag, one of the worst hit areas, where he was greeted by former minister Mehdi Eker, and he met with a group of quake survivors.

The leader of ultra-nationalist Victory Party Umit Ozdag reacted to Barzani's visit, tweeting:

"I heard Barzani will visit Gaziantep/Islahiye. What's the reason for his visit to Islahiye? He's a man who has been striving to divide Turkey. Stop this visit!"

Many Twitter users reacted to Ozdag's tweet, as one said:

"Leave the hostility behind, at least in the midst of this catastrophe. Have you reacted the same way to others, for instance to the rescue teams from Spain or Poland?"

Another user said:

"Are you serious? The man sent aid as soon as he heard there was an earthquake."

Somebody else:

"He visits the north of Kurdistan, it is his homeland."