United States Government has announced $85 million in urgent humanitarian assistance to support the response efforts of the 6th February earthquakes that struck Türkiye and northern Syria which devastated millions.
Secretary of State, Antony Blinken who made the announcement on Thursday, adding the US Agency for International Development USAID’s Disaster Assistance and Response Team is already hard at work in southern Türkiye.
He said, “Within hours of the first quake, the United States, at the direction of President Joe Biden, quickly mobilized federal agencies and partners to urgently provide life-saving assistance in close coordination with our Turkish Allies and partner organizations in Syria.
“Since Monday, supplementing the excellent work of our Embassy and Consulate teams, hundreds of additional U.S. personnel have arrived in the region to help save lives and assist those in need”.
He explained that two of US most highly trained Urban Search and Rescue Teams are conducting operations in support of Turkish rescue efforts in Adiyaman, one of the hardest hit areas.
“These teams have specialized equipment and canines for search and rescue operations. Joining them are emergency managers, hazardous materials technicians, engineers, logisticians, paramedics, and planners.
“Our existing humanitarian partners in both Türkiye and Syria are providing critical emergency relief, including food, water, shelter, medical care, and support staff for search and rescue efforts.
“U.S. helicopters are conducting airlift operations, transporting rescue personnel to sites where they are needed most”, Secretary Blinken said.
He said United States is grateful to the Government of Türkiye for re- opening the border so aid can flow into northwest Syria, and welcomed news today of the first UN aid convoy arriving via the Bab al-Hawa crossing.
“We call on the Assad regime to immediately allow aid in through all border crossings; allow distribution of aid to all affected areas; and to let humanitarians access all people in Syria who are in need, without exception”.
“In both Türkiye and Syria, the United States will remain committed to doing whatever it takes, for as long as it takes, to provide necessary assistance to those impacted by these earthquakes.
“The United States will continue to support the people of Türkiye and Syria, we welcome and encourage support from international partners in this time of great need”.
Latest report has it that the dead toll of the earthquakes that affected ten cities and dozens of villages in the south and southeast of Türkiye has exceeded 20,000 as of today while scores were injured.
