(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen)    THE people of the Caribbean Community have joined the International Community in lamenting the loss sustained by the Government and people of Turkey, through the 7.2 magnitude earthquake on 23 October and subsequent aftershocks on the city of Van and town of Ercis, in eastern Turkey. The CARICOM Secretariat sent a message of condolence on behalf the Caribbean Community through the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Caracas, Venezuela, to the President of the Republic of Turkey, in which it expressed distress with the tragic loss of life, widespread destruction and trauma in the wake of the earthquake.
The full text of the message reads:
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has watched with great distress the tragic loss of life, widespread destruction and continuing trauma and suffering wrought by the 7.2 magnitude earthquake of 23 October 2011 and subsequent aftershocks on the city of Van and town of Ercis, in eastern Turkey.
The people of the Caribbean Community join the international community in lamenting the loss sustained by the government and people of Turkey, and extend heartfelt sympathy to the families of the hundreds of deceased and hundreds more injured.  The special thoughts and prayers of the people of the Caribbean Community go out to all who have been dislocated by the earthquake.
In conveying our deepest condolences to the government and people of Turkey, we express our support for the residents of Van and Ercis as they set about the process of recovery and reconstruction.