Geneva - The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said victims of the earthquake would need drinking water, tents and blankets as a priority.
The Turkish Red Crescent, which has four rescue and relief teams on their way to the zone, managed to set up a field hospital in Yalova, south of Izmit, according to Ms MarieFrancoise Borel, spokeswoman for the Geneva-based federation. The United Nations said three experts were heading to Istanbul and Ankara to help assess needs.