Donor conference raises 7 billion euros

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Six weeks after the start of the earthquake disaster, the official death toll in Turkey has risen to more than 50,000, according to the Turkish president. Property damage amounts to some $104 billion. Recep Tayyip Erdogan (69) said this on Monday at an international donor conference in Brussels. Nearly 300,000 buildings were severely damaged. Millions of people have become homeless.

The international community has now mobilized seven billion euros for the victims of the earthquake disaster in Turkey and Syria. This was said by Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (59) on Monday after a donor conference in Brussels. Together they have exceeded expectations, said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (64). “When disaster strikes, there is only one answer, and that is solidarity.”

Germany alone announced that it would more than double the earthquake aid it had already provided to both countries to around €240 million. According to von der Leyens, the EU is supporting Turkey’s reconstruction with a billion euros. A further EUR 108 million must be made available for humanitarian and initial reconstruction aid in the civil war country of Syria.

On February 6, two magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 earthquakes shook southeastern Turkey and northwestern Syria. About 20 million people in the country are affected by the effects, according to the Turkish government. The catastrophe had sparked a heated debate about failures in crisis management and post-crisis management. The United Nations estimates that about 8.8 million people will be affected in Syria. About 6,800 people have died in the quakes across Syria, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Little information from Syria

In Turkey alone, 3.7 million people have been evacuated from the region since the disaster, the government said, and nearly two million people are currently living in tents. In the past week, at least 18 people have also been killed by flooding in the region also hit by the quake. Heavy rain continues in some places. People from the region keep coming forward and calling for help as supplies are getting scarce. There is only scant information about the situation from the civil war country of Syria.

“We must maintain our support and help the survivors not only survive, but also rebuild their lives,” said von der Leyen. She stressed that houses, schools and hospitals should be rebuilt to the highest earthquake-resistant standards. The fact that this was not the case before the devastating earthquake is considered by many in the country to be one of the reasons for the magnitude of the disaster. In addition, the water supply, sewerage and other important infrastructure would need to be repaired. Six weeks after the disaster, these are still undeveloped in many places.

Switzerland assists with 80.5 million francs

Switzerland is making an additional CHF 8.5 million available for the victims of the major earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. Manuel Bessler, delegate of the Federal Council for Humanitarian Aid, announced this on Monday at an international donor conference in Brussels. The money is earmarked for emergency aid in earthquake zones.

“We are committed to helping people in both countries and in all affected regions,” said Manuel Bessler, according to a statement at the conference. Immediately after the earthquake, the federal government sent the Swiss rescue chain and then an immediate response team from the Humanitarian Aid Corps to Turkey.

Switzerland supported the people of Syria with financial contributions to bilateral and multilateral partner organisations. She also had about 700 winter-resistant family tents distributed in both countries. (SDA)

Source: Blick