The European Union has announced it will be providing additional emergency support to both Syria and Turkey to face the consequences of recent catastrophic earthquakes, after Syria also requested the activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The total emergency humanitarian assistance for both countries is worth 6.5 million euro in total.
On Thursday, Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic will visit the affected areas in Turkey as part of the coordination of the EU response. Multiple EU member states, including Cyprus, have sent rescuers and humanitarian assistance to Turkey.
On the morning of 8 February, the Syrian authorities requested to activate the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The request includes search and rescue teams, shelter and medicine.
The EU Emergency Response Coordination Centre is in contact with EU Member States and the United Nations to immediately channel possible offers to the people most in need in Syria.
In addition, the Commission also announced an initial 3.5 million euro in emergency humanitarian assistance for Syria to help people in need to access shelter, water and sanitation, health various items they currently need, as well as to support the search and rescue operations.
Moreover, in Syria the EU is closely cooperating with its humanitarian partners, adjusting its ongoing humanitarian projects to respond to the crisis.
Partners such as NGOs and UN agencies are supporting affected medical facilities with medical kits, providing food and shelter, and repairing damaged infrastructure.
Regarding assistance to Turkey, sent through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism following the country’s request for its activation on February 6th, EU support now includes an initial 3 million euro in emergency assistance to boost response efforts in the country.
This comes on top of the 31 search and rescue teams and 5 medical teams offered by 20 EU Member States (including Cyprus) and Albania, Montenegro and Serbia via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The teams comprise over 1,500 rescuers and 100 search and rescue dogs.
Additionally, today Turkey asked for shelter items via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. Already Germany, Lithuania and Slovenia have offered blankets, tents and heaters.
Source: Cyprus News Agency