President Abdullah Gül had also earlier cancelled an Oct. 29 reception commemorating the founding of the Turkish Republic due to the earthquake. A statement released by the Office of the President on Monday declared that the reception had been cancelled “while work continues to save any citizens found under the rubble and while our people continue to suffer deep grief.”

Republic Day commemorates the day Mustafa Kemal Atatürk proclaimed Turkey a republic

As Turkey struggles to meet the pressing needs of the survivors in the eastern city of Van and surrounding towns after Sunday´s devastating quake caused thousands to flee to open spaces in fear of aftershocks, news of the display of kindness and solidarity from Japan hit news agencies on Wednesday, lifting spirits in the aftermath of the deadliest earthquake to strike Turkey in a decade.

The mailbox of Turkey´s embassy in Tokyo has been filling up with anonymous envelopes containing cash and letters, some of them in Turkish, to survivors wishing them a speedy recovery as well as letters extending condolences for those who lost their lives, the Anatolia news agency reported on Wednesday.

Among the envelopes, a letter from a 5-year-old child read “Gambatte, Turkey!” which roughly translates as “Do your best, Turkey!” has become the motto of the campaign Japanese people have been silently leading. Most letters did not include names, only people´s ages and sex, and not only displayed solidarity but also Japan´s gratitude for Turkey´s help back in March, when the country was shaken by one of the strongest earthquakes in its history.

“I understand that the earthquake in Van did great damage. As a Japanese person, I wanted to help with the rescue operations so that life can go back to normal soon,” another anonymous letter said, while dozens of other envelopes included cash and notes, one of which said, “This time we want to help you out, we remember the help you gave during our tragedy.”

Some of the notes brought to mind the deeply rooted friendship between Japan and Turkey as well as the times when Turkey has helped Japan, including Turkish efforts to evacuate Japanese in Iran when the Iran-Iraq war broke out, a memory that has long been buried in history but kept alive by some Japanese people who wanted to make it up to Turkey by lending a helping hand.

The total amount in cash from Japanese people has already exceeded $100,000, staff from the Turkish Embassy in Tokyo told Anatolia, noting that phone calls, e-mails and letters had been pouring in from all over Japan, where natural disasters, particularly earthquakes and tsunamis, are common. The embassy press office noted that Japan was mobilizing all efforts to launch campaigns to raise money for Turkey and that the embassy staff was very much moved by the acts of solidarity shown by Japan, which still has not fully recovered from the loss caused by the magnitude 9.0 quake that triggered a tsunami and destabilized a nuclear reactor back in March, Anatolia reported.

Japan is also readying to deliver $400,000 and urgently needed supplies to the earthquake zone, including means of shelter and tents.

“At this time our thoughts go to the people of Turkey hardest hit by the earthquake, which has caused heavy loss of life, many missing and extensive damage. I invite you to join me in prayer for those who have lost their lives and to be spiritually close to those many people so sorely tried. May the Almighty support all those engaged in rescue work,” he said during the Liturgy of the Word in the Vatican on Wednesday.

Sunday´s 7.2-magnitude quake in the eastern province of Van, Turkey´s strongest in a decade, has spurred the government to request foreign aid, including from Israel despite tensions between the two countries.

Aid is needed to house families, amid growing complaints of a lack of tents and other supplies. The governor of Van province said 3,000 buildings collapsed or were rendered structurally unsound after the quake hit the region. He added that the damage was the worst in outlying villages.