Turkey: humanitarian aid worth euro 23 million for earthquake victims
The European Commission has cleared a package
of humanitarian aid worth euro 23 million to support victims of two major
earthquakes in Turkey this year. The funding, channelled via the European
Commission Humanitarian Office (ECHO), will enable humanitarian organisations
to respond to continued needs among survivors, particularly those still
without weatherproof accommodation for the winter. The aid will enable
ECHO's partners to implement a wide range of programmes in response to
the disaster. ECHO's partners include the Spanish Red Cross, French Red
Cross, German Red Cross, Scottish Mercy Corps, Medecins du Monde (Greece),
European Perspectives (Greece) UNDP, UNFPA, Danish People's Aid, Handicap
International, Enfants du Monde. The funding will cover continuing emergency
needs in shelter, emergency relief, health, post-trauma, emergency repairs
to health and education premises and disaster preparedness. Turkey is still
reeling under the impact of the two quakes that struck heavily-populated
regions in the north-west on August 17 and November 12, killing at least
18,000 people and leaving tens of thousands homeless. ECHO provided aid
within days of both disasters and will continue to monitor the situation
carefully over the winter to be sure of meeting needs. Aftershocks and
minor earthquakes continue to affect the region since the major shocks.
This new decision brings ECHO funding for this crisis to a grand total
of euro 30 million.