The European Union is coming to Turkey's aid. One billion euros in aid will be disbursed for the reconstruction of the country and 108 million in humanitarian assistance to Syria, after the terrible earthquakes that killed more than 56,000 people in early February. At an international pledging conference in Brussels, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed that the "needs of survivors are enormous and need to be addressed urgently".

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan estimated the cost of the damage in his country at "some 104 billion dollars" (97 billion euros). "Regardless of its economic status, it is impossible for a country to fight a disaster of this magnitude alone," said the Turkish leader, who was speaking via video conference.



Millions of people have seen their homes destroyed in the earthquake-affected area in south-east Turkey and northern Syria, home to a large refugee population or displaced by the Syrian conflict. In Syria, the damage is estimated at $8.9 billion by the UN, and the cost of emergency repairs at $14.8 billion.

The France sends an additional 12 million

Germany announced that it would double its aid to the victims of the earthquake, bringing it to 240 million euros, and the France that it added 12 million to the thirty million already announced for Turkey and Syria.

In Turkey, floods hit two of the provinces affected by the quake on Wednesday, leaving about two dozen dead or missing and adding to the distress of survivors. Although relations are often strained, Turkey is a key partner for the European Union, which has paid more than five billion euros to the country to help it cope with the reception of Syrian refugees. "We are hosting four million refugees, including 3.5 million Syrians. As we heal our wounds, we stand in solidarity with the Syrian people, who were also affected by the earthquake," Erdogan said.

On the other hand, the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, sanctioned by the West since the repression in 2011 of the popular uprising that degenerated into civil war, is not associated with the conference. This was "deplored" by the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement.

  • World
  • Turkey
  • Earthquakes
  • Natural disaster
  • European Union (EU)