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UK to send rescuers to Turkey, UK-funded White Helmets to provide aid in Syria

White Helmets has repeatedly faced criticism from Moscow

LONDON, February 6. /TASS/. The UK will send a team of search and rescue specialists, equipment and dogs to earthquake-stricken Turkey while the UK-funded White Helmets group will provide assistance in Syria, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said in a statement on Monday.

"The UK is sending immediate support to Turkey including a team of 76 search and rescue specialists, equipment and rescue dogs. In Syria, the UK-funded White Helmets have mobilized their resources to respond," he said. "We stand ready to provide further support as needed."

White Helmets has repeatedly faced criticism from Moscow. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused it taking Western money to stage provocations in Syria and shoot false videos purporting to be about the government’s use of chemical weapons in Syria, which were then used to justify air strikes on the country.