Qatar donates World Cup cabins to quake-hit Turkey and Syria

Qatar will send Turkey and Syria 10,000 cabins and caravans used during the World Cup, which would now house people who lost their homes in a devastating earthquake, Qatari officials said on Sunday.

"In view of the urgent needs in Turkey and Syria, we have taken the decision to ship our cabins and caravans to the region, providing much needed and immediate support to the people of Turkey and Syria," a Qatari official told reporters.

The mobile homes were used for a few weeks when Qatar hosted the football World Cup last year. Officials have indicated after the tournament they would be donated.

The first shipment is set to leave Doha port for Turkey on Monday, with further deliveries expected in the coming days, Qatari officials said.

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, visited Turkey on Sunday, the first foreign leader to do so since last week's quake.

He stayed away from the affected zones, holding talks in Istanbul with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on ways Doha could help "mitigate this disaster", the Emir said in a tweet.

Turkey is now desperate for housing after thousands of buildings were destroyed in the quake and tens of thousands more needing major repairs before they can be used again.

Agence France-Presse