The Canada’s Government has provided $10 million in humanitarian assistance to Turkey and Syria over the devastating earthquakes that struck on Monday, causing death of thousands of people, destroying homes, roads, health facilities and other critical infrastructure.
The announcement was made on Tuesday by Honourable Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, Harjit S. Sajjan, to support the international response to this emergency.
This contribution will help support emergency medical services and provide shelter, food and other essential items while in addition, Canada allocated approximately $50 million in humanitarian assistance to Syria for 2023.
Reacting to the incident, Harjit S. Sajjan said Canadians are deeply saddened by the loss of life and terrible destruction caused by the earthquakes.
“Our initial response will go toward meeting the immediate, most urgent needs of those impacted by these devastating events. We continue to look at ways we can support those affected during these difficult times.”
Many Canadian-funded partners have already initiated emergency response activities in Syria, including the distribution of food by the World Food Programme, fuel for emergency heating by NGOs and UN agencies and tents, tarps and other shelter- related items by the UN Refugee Agency.
While Canada continues to monitor the situation and remains in close contact with humanitarian partners to assess and respond to evolving needs.
It was reported that a 7.8 magnitude earthquake devastated Turkey and Syria on Monday, leaving over an estimated 5,000 people dead and thousands injured and thousands of buildings have also been reduced to rubble. The earthquake is said to be the largest and deadliest one to hit Turkey in decades.
Earlier, due to the devastation and loss of lives caused by the horrific earthquakes, the Turkish President, Recep Erdogan, has declared a three-month state of emergency in 10 provinces worst affected.
Erdogan who has been the country’s leader for almost 20 years said the death toll in Turkey’s earthquakes has risen to 3,549 people while more than 1,600 people are reported to have died in Syria, the British Broadcasting Corporation stated.
In a televised address on the issue, Erdogan noted that the state of emergency was to ensure that rescue work can be “carried out quickly” in the affected areas particularly, the southeast region of the state.