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.