240 million euros pledged: Germany doubles earthquake aid

More than a month after the earthquake disaster, basic necessities are still missing in Turkey and Syria. At a donor conference, the EU is campaigning for further support. Germany now wants to double its aid – to 240 million euros.

Germany is doubling its aid for the victims of the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. A total of 240 million euros are now to be mobilized. This was announced by Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock at an international donor conference in Brussels.

Those who still have to live in tents and need medical care should continue to receive intensive support from Europe, said the Green politician.

Millions of people live in tents

On February 6, two earthquakes measuring 7.7 and a little later measuring 7.6 shook southeast Turkey and northern Syria. In all, more than 50,000 people died and millions were left homeless. In Turkey alone, 3.7 million people have been evacuated from the region since the disaster, according to the government, and almost two million people are currently living in tents.

In the past week, at least 18 people have also been killed by flooding in the region also affected by the quake. In some places the heavy rain continues. People from the region keep coming forward and calling for help because supplies are getting scarce.

In Syria in particular, many live in precarious circumstances

In Syria, the northwest of the country is affected. There is only scant information about the situation from the civil war country. In the face of years of bombardment and fighting, many people there were already living in precarious conditions before the tremors. The EU provides support in both government-controlled and non-government-controlled areas.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson invited to the international donor conference in Brussels to collect donations for relief and reconstruction measures after the disaster. Sweden currently holds the presidency of the EU states. It was expected that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan would also take part in the meeting via video link.