Statue of Liberty and United States flag. Image Credit: iStock.
Syria Türkiye

U.S. Earthquake Relief Efforts in Türkiye and Syria

Latina Republic

U.S. Earthquake Relief Efforts in Türkiye and Syria

“We are here to stand with the people of Türkiye and Syria in the wake of this devastating earthquake.  I just had a chance to fly over to see some of the devastation, and it’s really hard to put into words.  You see buildings still standing and then buildings collapsed – roofs destroyed, and right next to it something that’s still standing.  But it gives you some sense of the scale of this.  We’ve had tens of thousands of deaths, tens of millions of people affected by this earthquake.  And of course, we still don’t know the full extent of it.

Immediately, when the – after the earthquake hit, the United States, other countries jumped in. We had search and rescue teams here within a day – about 200 people, canines, other experts in trying to do search and rescue.  We’ve had about $85 million worth of assistance poured in immediately for housing and water and food and medicine and clothing, all that in the immediate days following the earthquake.  Today, I can announce that we will be bringing another $100 million dollars to assist those who are so desperately in need.  We’ve drawn that from the Emergency Refugee and Migration Fund, as well as from a humanitarian assistance fund that State Department and USAID have, and that will be moving soon.

At the same time, we are working in very close collaboration with our Turkish colleagues, both to understand all of the needs and to find ways to deliver on them.  This could not be done without the extraordinary work and collaboration of so many parts of the U.S. Government, but starting with the United States military, which, as always, has jumped in a remarkable way. Our colleagues have flown something like 150 sorties.  They’ve gotten helicopters out over hard-to-reach areas – 24 million pounds of assistance is coming through this place, and as you can see, it’s moving right on to the trucks behind me and it will move in to people who need it.

But also, USAID as always, responding so quickly and so effectively.  The State Department, our mission here in Türkiye – all of them coming together in collaboration with our Turkish partners to try to help people.  This is going to be a long-term effort.  The search and rescue, unfortunately, is coming to an end.  The recovery operation is on, and then there’ll be a massive rebuilding effort.  When you see the extent of the damage that’s – the number of buildings, the number of apartments, the number of homes that have been destroyed, it’s going to take a massive effort to rebuild.  But we’re committed to supporting Türkiye in that effort.  Many countries around the world are doing the same.  There’s tremendous solidarity and a tremendous determination to see this through.

The most important thing right now is to get assistance to people who need it, to get them through the winter, and to get them back on their feet.  But simply put, the United States is here, we stand strongly with the people of Türkiye and the people of Syria through our NGO implementing partners, and we’ll stick with it until we all get the job done,” Secretary Antony J. Blinken Remarks to the Press, from Türkiye, Incirlik Air Base, February 19, 2023.

U.S. Assistance to Emergency Earthquake Response Efforts in Türkiye and Syria

FACT SHEET

OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON

FEBRUARY 19, 2023

The February 6 earthquakes that struck southeastern Türkiye and northern Syria have devastated millions of people.  Within hours of the first quake, the United States, at the direction of President Biden, quickly mobilized federal agencies and partners to urgently provide life-saving assistance in close coordination with our NATO Ally Türkiye and partner organizations in Syria.

The Secretary announced today that President Biden intends to authorize $50 million in Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Funds (ERMA) in response to the unprecedented and devastating earthquake in Türkiye and Syria.  In addition, the United States is providing $50 million in humanitarian assistance through the State Department and USAID.  This brings total U.S. humanitarian assistance to support the earthquake response in Türkiye and Syria to $185 million to date.

The United States also welcomes the February 16 UN Flash Appeal for earthquake-related assistance in Türkiye and the February 14 UN Flash Appeal for earthquake-related assistance in Syria.  USAID’s Disaster Assistance and Response Team, which includes experienced emergency managers, construction riggers, hazardous materials technicians, licensed engineers and emergency medicine physicians, logisticians, paramedics, planners, search-and-rescue specialists, and search-and-rescue dogs with handlers, is assisting in southern Türkiye.

Our most highly trained Urban Search and Rescue Teams, with more than 200 members and 170,000 pounds of specialized equipment, conducted operations in support of Turkish rescue efforts in Adiyaman, one of the hardest hit areas.  In Syria, the White Helmets, our local partners, have rescued more than 2,900 survivors from the rubble, and U.S.-supported Syrian medics have been treating survivors in Idlib, Aleppo, and other affected areas.

U.S. military helicopters are conducting airlift operations from Incirlik Airbase, transporting rescue personnel to sites where they are needed most.  Additionally, the U.S. Navy has repositioned naval vessels to the Eastern Mediterranean Sea to provide logistics, medical, and rotary air lift support as necessary to support the needs identified by the Turkish government.  U.S. military aircraft have also airlifted approximately 18 metric tons of critical relief supplies from Adana’s Incirlik airfield to local Turkish government authorities for distribution to earthquake-affected populations.

The State Department and USAID are working through UN agencies and NGOs to provide emergency assistance in Türkiye and Syria, including hot meals, water, medical care and supplies; non-food items such as blankets, clothes, and hygiene kits, temporary shelter, and structural engineers; and essential mental health and psychosocial support – especially to affected children and to other vulnerable individuals.

Additionally, U.S. NGOs are providing valuable assistance, and the U.S. private sector has already donated more than $66 million to support the relief and recovery efforts.

U.S. officials have remained in regular coordination with Turkish counterparts and UN leadership on how we can best support their efforts.  This includes calls between President Biden and President Erdogan, Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Mevlüt Cavusoglu and UN Secretary General Guterres, and Secretary Austin and Defense Minister Akar to relay our offers of assistance and discuss how the United States can continue to assist during this crisis.

The United States is committed to expanding humanitarian access to all affected areas of Syria.  In that regard, we are grateful to the Government of Türkiye for facilitating the UN’s renewed access to the Bab al-Salama crossing so aid can flow into northwest Syria, and we are supporting efforts at the UN to sustainably keep open additional crossing points for UN assistance between Türkiye and Syria.

To underscore that U.S. sanctions will not prevent or inhibit providing humanitarian assistance in Syria, the Department of the Treasury issued a broad General License to provide additional authorizations for disaster relief assistance to the Syrian people.

The United States is proud to join the global effort to help Türkiye, a valued and longstanding friend, partner, and NATO Ally, just as Türkiye has so often contributed its own humanitarian rescue experts to so many other countries in the past.  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 affected by these earthquakes.  The United States will continue to support the people of Türkiye and Syria, and we welcome and encourage support from our international partners in this time of great need.

 

 

United States Announces Additional Earthquake Relief for the People of Türkiye and Syria

 

PRESS STATEMENT

THE SECRETARY OF STATE

FEBRUARY 19, 2023

Today the United States is announcing an additional $100 million in assistance in response to the devastating earthquake in Türkiye and Syria.  President Biden intends to authorize $50 million in Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Funds (ERMA).  In addition to the ERMA funds, the United States is also providing an additional $50 million in humanitarian assistance through the State Department and USAID. This will bring the total U.S. humanitarian assistance to support the earthquake response to $185 million.

This humanitarian assistance will target vulnerable earthquake-affected populations in Türkiye and Syria and be available to support international and nongovernmental organizations providing assistance. This announcement will benefit the procurement and distribution of core relief and lifesaving items such as blankets, mattresses, food packs, warm clothing, tents, and shelter materials. It will additionally support medicine and health services, clean water and sanitation efforts, and programs supporting the education of children and youth impacted by this tragic earthquake.

The United States will continue working with the international community to provide lifesaving aid to earthquake affected areas.

 

 

The Biden-Harris Administration’s Response to the Earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria

FACT SHEET

In the aftermath of the earthquakes on February 6, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. authorized an immediate U.S. response and directed the heads of federal agencies to rapidly mobilize to assist the Government of Türkiye and humanitarian partners in Syria.

Across the U.S. government, officials expressed their condolences to the people of Türkiye and Syria as well as their desire to support the humanitarian response. In the hours following the earthquakes, President Biden called President Erdogan to convey the readiness of the U.S. government to provide any and all needed assistance to our NATO Ally Türkiye.

Secretary Tony Blinken, Secretary Lloyd Austin, and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan engaged their Turkish counterparts, and USAID Administrator Samantha Power spoke with the head of the Syrian Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets.

First Lady Jill Biden sent a personal note of condolence to First Lady Emine Erdogan, and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan visited the Turkish Embassy to express condolences to the Turkish Ambassador and sign the official condolences book. U.S. officials have remained in regular coordination with their Turkish counterparts, with UN agencies, and with partners in Syria on how we can best support their efforts. Finally, the U.S. government affirmed to the Syrian mission to the UN that our humanitarian assistance is available to all Syrians, no matter where they live, and that we are ready to provide additional support.

Life-saving efforts by the U.S. in the impacted region:

  • Yesterday, the U.S. announced it will provide $85 million in life-saving assistance to provide shelter to the displaced, as well as food, medicine and other desperately needed aid.
  • USAID deployed a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to the earthquake region, which includes experienced emergency managers, construction riggers, hazardous materials technicians, licensed engineers and emergency medicine physicians, logisticians, paramedics, planners, search-and-rescue specialists, and search-and-rescue dogs with handlers.
  • With transportation support from the Department of Defense, two USAID urban search and rescue teams, composed of 159 members and 12 rescue dogs, quickly deployed from the U.S. to support Turkish search and rescue efforts.
  • To date, the U.S. has deployed approximately 170,000 pounds of specialized tools and equipment—including hydraulic concrete breaking equipment, saws, torches, and drills, along with advanced medical equipment to assist with search and rescue operations in Türkiye.
  • The Commander of U.S. European Command has directed the Commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe to coordinate U.S. military assistance efforts.
  • U.S. Black Hawk helicopters are supporting airlift operations from Incirlik Airbase in Türkiye, transporting rescue personnel to sites that are most needed for rescue operations and difficult to access given the extent of the destruction.
  • U.S.-funded humanitarian partners are providing assistance throughout all areas of Syria, including health services, shelter support, food assistance, and access to water, sanitation, and hygiene. Those partners include the White Helmets, who have pulled more than 1,000 survivors from the rubble and U.S.-supported Syrian medics who have been treating survivors across Idlib, Aleppo, and other affected areas.
  • U.S. officials have worked with Turkish authorities to ensure operations can resume at Bab al-Hawa crossing, a critical lifeline for UN-provided cross-border assistance into northwestern Syria.
  • Yesterday, to underscore that U.S. sanctions will not prevent or inhibit providing humanitarian assistance in Syria, the Department of the Treasury issued a broad General License to provide additional authorizations for disaster relief assistance to the Syrian people. This license will be in effect for six months. U.S. humanitarian assistance is delivered directly to the Syrian people, no matter where they live.

Support available to U.S. Citizens in Türkiye:

  • U.S. Consular Affairs staff in Türkiye and the United States are working tirelessly to provide consular assistance to American victims their families, and any U.S. citizens in the affected areas.
  • Individuals in need of immediate, local emergency assistance in Türkiye should call Turkish authorities using the phone number 112.  U.S. citizens impacted by the earthquake should contact the U.S. Embassy Ankara.
  • Information is available to U.S. citizens in the area through alerts, the U.S. embassy and consulate websites, and travel.state.gov.

The Biden-Harris Administration commends the outpouring of support from around the world. USAID’s Center for International Disaster Information (CIDI) has a list of vetted organizations responding to this crisis.

 

 

UN launches $1 billion appeal to scale-up aid operations in Türkiye

UN News, February 16

Humanitarian Appeal 

The United Nations on Thursday launched a $1 billion appeal for Türkiye to assist more than five million people affected by the cataclysmic earthquakes last week, the largest to hit the country in a century.

The funding, which covers a three-month-period, will allow aid organizations to swiftly ramp up their operations to support Government-led response efforts in areas that include food security, protection, education, water and shelter.

 

U.S. Earthquake Relief Efforts in Türkiye and Syria

 

 

UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged the international community to step up and fully fund the response effort.

“Türkiye is home to the largest number of refugees in the world and has shown enormous generosity to its Syrian neighbors for years,” he said.

“Now is the time for the world to support the people of Türkiye – just as they have stood in solidarity with others seeking assistance.”

 

The UN’s Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, also called for countries to support the appeal.

“The people of Türkiye have experienced unspeakable heartache,” said Mr. Griffiths, who visited the country last week.

“I met families who shared their stories of shock and devastation. We must stand with them in their darkest hour and ensure they receive the support they need,” he added.

The UN and partners have been rushing to support Türkiye and neighbouring Syria in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that struck on 6 February.

 

 

More than nine million people in Türkiye alone have been directly impacted by the once-in-a-generation disaster, which has left 35,000 people dead, according to latest figures from the Government.

The earthquakes struck at the peak of winter, leaving hundreds of thousands of people–including small children and elderly people–without access to shelter, food, water, heaters and medical care in freezing temperatures.

Some 47,000 buildings have been destroyed or damaged, including schools, hospitals and other essential services.

Thousands of people have sought refuge in temporary shelters across the country. Many families have been separated, and hundreds of children are now orphaned or unable to be reunited with their parents.

As the UN chief noted, Türkiye also hosts the world’s largest number of refugees.

Some 3.6 million Syrians have found a safe haven there, along with nearly 320,000 people of other nationalities, according to the UN refugee agency, UNHCR. 

More than 1.74 million refugees live in the 11 provinces impacted by the earthquakes.

The UN is coordinating the operations of thousands of search-and-rescue personnel in five provinces – Adiyaman, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmara and Malatya – and humanitarian organizations have begun relief operations in the hardest-hit areas, in support of the Government-led response.

Together with partners, the UN is delivering hot meals, food, tents, warm winter clothing, blankets, mattresses and kitchen sets to people in need and dispatching medical supplies and personnel to affected areas.

Additionally, psychosocial support is being provided, and child-friendly spaces and safe spaces for women are being established.

Syria aid

This week also saw the launch of a nearly $400 million appeal for Syria, where aid delivery from across the border with Türkiye is continuing.

On Wednesday, 22 trucks carrying items from the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNHCR crossed into the northwest via the Bab Al-Hawa crossing, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric reported in his daily briefing from New York.

 

 

Two additional trucks carrying tents provided by UNHCR entered through another crossing, Bab Al-Salam.

Mr. Dujarric said shelter needs are the top priority among displaced people in the region, where many homes have collapsed in the aftermath of the earthquakes.

More than 8,900 buildings are completely or partially destroyed, leaving 11,000 people homeless.  Other priorities include food, cash assistance and supplies to cope with the harsh winter weather.

 

Latina Republic is a reporting, research, and advocacy nonprofit organization advancing human rights in the Americas. Latina Republic fills the void in coverage of urgent social, political, environmental, economic and gender inequities affecting the Americas. Latina Republic’s mission is to inspire humane policies that fortify relations between the U.S. and Latin America. Our work is guided by peaceful international relations focused on solidarity. We believe asylum and seeking refuge is a human right. Our work envisions a world where neighboring countries are seen as partners, and immigrants and refugees don’t have to live in the shadows. Our goal is to advance peaceful dialogue by highlighting local perspectives that don’t make it into the mainstream news. Our vision is that this knowledge will assist all stakeholders in solving regional problems while strengthening ties.

Similar Posts