Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke released the following statement regarding the devastating 7.2 earthquake killing more than 400 people and displacing many in the town of Ercis in Van province, Turkey: 

“My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Turkey, who are suffering from the catastrophic damage caused by this devastating earthquake.  Unfortunately, the death toll continues to rise with more than 400 people reported dead and many thousands of people displaced.  As recovery efforts continue, I am grateful to the international community for its assistance to Turkey in its time of need.  As a New York native, my heart also goes out to those people in the Turkish- American Community here who have lost loved ones and are suffering because of the destruction.  I encourage the Brooklyn community to keep Turkey in your thoughts and prayers at this difficult time and I will continue to support the humanitarian efforts put in place to help this nation recover.”

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