European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in Brussels this Monday JOHN THYS (AFP)
After the devastating earthquake that killed more than 57,000 people and devastated cities and entire communities on February 6, the international community joined the people of Turkey and Syria. Dozens of participants at a donors’ conference organized by the European Commission and the Swedish EU Presidency on Monday pledged a total of €7,000 million in aid to help rebuild the area hit by the region’s worst natural disaster in decades.
It was “a good day for international solidarity,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, shortly after Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced the final amount raised after a day of domestic discussions 60 countries and international institutions took part.
The donations come after the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) two weeks ago lamented the weak response to an urgent call in mid-February to raise more than $1,000 million for Turkey and another $400 million for Syria in three months.
Brussels alone has announced that it will release 1.1 billion euros for reconstruction in Turkey and another 108 million for humanitarian aid in neighboring Syria. Several countries, including Spain, have also pledged aid with millionaire’s supplements, albeit in amounts far removed from the damage estimated by those affected. Overall, according to Von der Leyen, almost half of the pledged donations, 3.3 billion, come from Europe. “We have shown the world that we support those who need us. And that we are always with our partners,” he emphasized.
“We will ensure that the commitments are fulfilled in full and on time,” promised the head of the European Executive, who, opening the conference, recalled that a month and a half after the tragedy, “the needs of the survivors remain massive and urgent “Millions have been left homeless and living in tents,” von der Leyen recalled. Among the priorities he listed are “rebuilding homes, schools and hospitals” to the “best” earthquake-proof standards, repair of infrastructure to keep drinking water flowing, and the recapitalization of public services and private businesses so families can move forward in the long term.
Most of the aid will go to Turkey, the country hardest hit by the earthquakes and for which the most reliable figures are available. Von der Leyen has indicated that around 950 million euros of the total commitment will be allocated to the affected population in Syria.
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The package promised by the European Commission has been complemented by donations from various countries attending the international conference chaired by Von der Leyen and Kristersson, whose country holds the rotating EU Council Presidency (currently vetoed by Turkey) . entry into NATO). Members of the EU and candidate countries, members of the G-20 – except Russia -, Gulf countries and international humanitarian and financial organizations were invited to the meeting in Brussels.
Sweden will contribute 45 million euros, a similar amount to the amount announced by Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, who has announced that Spain will contribute a “first package” of 55 million euros. Of this, he said in press releases, 50 million will be available for Turkey on low-interest loans and the rest for humanitarian aid to the victims in the two countries. For its part, Germany has announced that it will double its aid to the victims to 240 million euros, while France will add 12 million to the 30 already made available. The United States used the conference to announce that it would increase its aid by an additional $50 million, bringing the total to $235 million.
Aid, according to Kristersson, is channeled through the international organizations of the United Nations. Monday’s meeting, as part of a council of foreign and defense ministers set to discuss further shipments of ammunition to Ukraine, “offers an opportunity for the EU and the international community to show the Turks and Syrians that we will stand by them to rebuild their lives,” the Swedish Prime Minister had assured.
The 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the region in the early hours of February 6, followed by a powerful aftershock a few hours later, killed at least 50,000 people in Turkey and more than 7,000 in Syria, although the numbers there are due to less accurate are the complicated political situation in the affected area.
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