DOHA - Qatar will send Turkey and Syria 10,000 cabins and caravans used during the World Cup, which will now house people who lost their homes in a devastating earthquake, Qatari officials said Sunday.
The United Nations has said millions may be in need of help after the 7.8-magnitude earthquake early Monday that killed at least 33,000 and flattened entire neighborhoods in both countries.
"In view of the urgent needs in Turkey and Syria, we have taken the decision to ship our cabins and caravans to the region, providing much-needed and immediate support to the people of Turkey and Syria," a Qatari official told AFP.
The mobile homes were used for a few weeks when Qatar hosted the football World Cup last year. Officials have stated that they will be donated following the tournament.
The first shipment is set to leave Doha port for Turkey on Monday, with further deliveries expected in the coming days, Qatari officials said, requesting anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the media.
The Gulf state's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, visited Turkey on Sunday, the first foreign leader to do so since last week's quake.
He stayed away from the affected zones, holding talks in Istanbul with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on ways Doha could help "mitigate this disaster," the emir said in a tweet.
Qatar has one of the biggest foreign rescue teams in Turkey, with about 130 people on the ground. It has also sent 100 tons of aid.
The two countries have built increasingly strong ties in recent years.
Even before the quake, Qatar had agreed to inject billions of dollars into the struggling Turkish economy and invested in shopping malls and infrastructure projects.
Erdogan has been criticized at home over the government's response to the earthquake.
Turkey is now in desperate need of housing after the earthquake destroyed thousands of structures and tens of thousands more require extensive repairs before they can be used again. AFP
#Liam Broady credits Pep Guardiola as inspiration after winning his second career tennis title
Liam Broady won the second title of his career on Sunday afternoon – and said he was inspired by Pep Guardiola’s passionate speech in his Friday press conference.
Stockport-born Broady, 29, beat Czech Zdenek Kolar 6-4, 6-4 at the hard-court Vilnius Open in Lithuania. He’s competed in nine ATP finals and lost his first seven, but has won the last two after triumphing in Biel in 2021.
Broady, a Manchester City supporter, joked: ‘How couldn’t I bring the trophy home this week after Pep Guardiola’s press conference?’
In response to a picture of Broady roaring with joy tweeted by the ATP Challenger Tour, he replied: ‘Not sure if it’s a picture from the match today or me trying to reach the high notes on Beyonce song Halo!’
The victory takes the Brit back to No 140 in the men’s rankings.
