Korea to offer $1 mil. in aid to quake-hit Syria through UN: foreign ministry

A local resident, whose loved ones are still under the rubble, stand in front of the collapsed buildings in Hatay, nine days after a 7,8-magnitude earthquake struck parts of Turkey and Syria, Feb. 15. AFP-Yonhap

Korea plans to provide emergency humanitarian aid of $1 million to Syria for victims and others suffering from last week's catastrophic earthquake that also affected Turkey, Seoul's foreign ministry said Thursday.

The aid will be delivered through the United Nations due to the lack of diplomatic ties between Korea and Syria, according to the ministry.

Lim Soo-suk, the ministry's spokesperson, said the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has requested humanitarian assistance for Syria from the international community in connection with the massive earthquake.

"We hope that the support from our government will help victims, suffering from hardships, recover from the damage," Lim said during a regular press briefing.

Korea has offered $5 million in emergency humanitarian assistance to Turkey and sent a 118-member team to the country to assist local search and rescue operations. (Yonhap)