A statement issued by the Office of His Eminence Sayed al-Sistani about the earthquake that hit the Turkish and Syrian territories

The Office of His Eminence the supreme religious authority; Sayed Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani, issued a statement about the earthquake that hit the Turkish and Syrian territories.

This is the text of the statement as received from the official website of His Eminence's office:

The severe earthquake that recently struck large areas of the Turkish and Syrian territories has resulted - as indicated by the news - in large numbers of victims and injured and enormous material losses in housing and infrastructure, in a humanitarian disaster that has not been unparalleled in recent times .

The supreme religious authority in Najaf, while expressing its condolences and solidarity with those who lost their loved ones in this tragedy and praying to Allah Almighty for them patience and solace and for the wounded and injured with healing and wellness, it hopes that the efforts of the concerned authorities and the general philanthropists will be combined in order to provide the necessary needs for those affected as soon as possible.

We ask Allah Almighty to ward off the affliction of everyone and bless them with goodness and peace, for He is the guardian of that and He is the most merciful.