EU reaffirms commitment to help those in need after quakes in Türkiye, Syria

By Agnes Szucs

BRUSSELS (AA) - The EU reaffirmed on Monday its commitment to support victims of the Feb. 6 earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria.

Representatives from EU member states and Türkiye held a meeting in the framework of the Integrated Political Crisis Response (IPCR) to assess the situation after the earthquakes, the Swedish presidency of the Council of the European Union said in a statement.

With an aim to coordinate relief efforts, the parties reviewed the immediate needs and so-called “bottlenecks,” eventual factors that may slow down the work, the document explained.

EU countries “remain committed to continuing providing coordinated assistance to those affected by the earthquake in Türkiye and Syria, notably via the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism and by means of humanitarian assistance,” it added.

On March 16, the Swedish EU presidency and the European Commission will co-host an EU donor conference to raise funds for those in need in Türkiye and Syria.

Chaired by the EU’s turning presidency, the IPCR enables quick and coordinated decisions in times of major crises, such as natural disasters or acts of terrorism.

Under the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism, 32 search and rescue teams and six medical teams from 21 EU members and three other European participating countries have contributed to the relief work in Türkiye.

The bloc has allocated €3 billion ($3.2 billion) to support humanitarian organizations working in the country, and sent 500 temporary accommodation units, 2,000 tents, and 8,000 beds from its strategic reserves.