CNN
—
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday announced $100 million in disaster relief for Turkey and Syria as the countries grapple with the aftermath of a powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck killed at least 46,000 people.
The top US diplomat, who toured some of the hardest-hit areas by helicopter on Sunday alongside Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, later told reporters at Incirlik Air Base that he was ” really hard to put into words” about the devastation he saw during the tour, but said, “We are here to stand with the people of Turkey and Syria.”
The new funding round includes $50 million under the Refugee and Migrant Emergency Relief Fund for emergency response efforts and an additional $50 million in humanitarian assistance through the Department of State and USAID, according to the Department of State.
The latest funding brings total US assistance to $185 million. Private U.S. nongovernmental organizations have already contributed an additional $66 million to response efforts so far, according to a fact sheet provided by the State Department.
“Immediately after the earthquake, the United States and other countries responded,” Blinken said.
Efforts to recover survivors have been hampered by a cold winter in quake-hit areas, while authorities grapple with logistical challenges transporting aid in northwestern Syria to midst of an acute humanitarian crisis compounded by years of political conflict.
Blinken acknowledged that the relief efforts in Syria were “very, very difficult”, but promised: “We will do everything we can, including ensuring, for example, that there is absolutely no doubts that the sanctions against Syria will not affect the delivery of humanitarian aid.”
“They never did, but we’re going to make sure we dispel any doubt about it so anyone who is able can make sure they help bring aid to people in Syria who need it.” , did he declare. said.
Blinken also met with representatives of Syria’s civil defense volunteer organization, known as the White Helmets, in southern Turkey on Sunday and pledged to support the group and other organizations “providing a vital assistance in response to this tragedy,” he said in a Tweeter.
The White Helmets have done the heavy lifting in search, rescue and recovery operations in rebel-held areas in northern and northwestern Syria.
The group tweeted sunday that members briefed Blinken on the earthquake response and the current situation in northwestern Syria, as well as “the humanitarian situation, ways to support affected civilians, and rapid recovery mechanisms.”
Turkey’s disaster management authority said on Sunday it had halted most search and rescue operations nearly two weeks after the quake.
Some efforts remain in Kahramanmaraş and Hatay provinces. A couple and their 12-year-old child were rescued in Hatay on Saturday, 296 hours after the quake, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.
Blinken told reporters at Incirlik Air Base that “it was going to take a tremendous effort to rebuild, but we are committed to supporting Turkey in this effort.”
“The most important thing right now is to help people who need it to get through the winter and get them back on their feet,” he added.
cnn
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