Catalonia to activate aid mechanism 'now' to send help to Turkey and Syria

Foreign action minister Meritxell Serret presided over a Catalan Emergency Humanitarian Aid Committee meeting on Wednesday morning to discuss the logistics of sending assistance to Turkey and Syria, which were hit by magnitude 7.8 and 7.5 earthquakes on Monday killing almost 10,000.

The politician, who called in from Brussels where she is set to participate in a European Committee of the Regions debate later in the day, said the meeting had been used to "collect information on the specific demands and needs of the local authorities."

This has been put together "to activate the mechanisms to deliver the necessary material," she said, adding that it would have to be done "now."

Serret also explained that some of the aid would be purchased in Turkey and Syria to help boost the local economy.

"[The Catalan government] will assess what is needed and activate all the tools that are necessary so that rescue teams are legally sanctioned by local authorities so they can act in the affected area," she added.

"No Catalans in affected areas"

There are still no Catalans that have been "identified" as being affected by the Turkey and Syria quakes, Serret told the Catalan News Agency (ACN) from Brussels. 

"Despite this, we will continue to be alert and remain in contact as much as we can with local authorities to see how rescue efforts evolve," she stated. 

Earlier on Wednesday the Catalan parliament held a moment of silence for the victims of the tremors and read a joint statement in which all parties except for the far right expressed their "commitment" to assisting those in need. 

A canine search and rescue charity from southern Catalonia, K9 Creixell, sent a team of 6 people and 5 dogs to Turkey on Tuesday.