Kurdistan Region resumes oil exports to Turkey

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) on Tuesday announced the resumption of oil exports through the Turkish pipeline, after previously suspending them in light of the large-scale earthquake that ripped through Turkey and Syria.

A destructive 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the city of Kahramanmaras in southern Turkey on Monday morning, with the impact felt across the country and neighboring Syria.

At least 8,326 people have so far been killed, over 40,000 injured, and tens of thousands of buildings collapsed throughout both countries in the aftermath of the disastrous tremor.

The KRG suspended oil exports to Turkey on Monday afternoon as a safety measure following the quake.

The natural resources ministry announced the resumption of oil exports to Turkey on Tuesday evening.

Around 450,000 barrels of oil are exported to Turkey from the Kurdistan Region and Kirkuk through the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline every day.

The search and rescue operations continue across Turkey and Syria as tens of thousands are believed to be trapped under the rubble. 

The natural disaster has galvanized countries from around the world to come to the aid of the mourning countries, providing rescue teams, monetary support, as well as relief and medical supplies.

Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudan on Tuesday announced that the country will be allocating three billion dinars to purchase humanitarian aid and delivering them to the victims in both countries.