Mahaz News
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday introduced $100 million in catastrophe reduction help for Turkey and Syria because the nations grapple with the aftermath of a robust 7.8 magnitude earthquake that has killed no less than 46,000 individuals.
The prime US diplomat, who took a helicopter tour Sunday of a few of the hardest-hit areas alongside Turkish international minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, later instructed reporters at Incirlik Air Base that it was “really hard to put into words” the devastation he noticed throughout the tour however stated, “We are here to stand with the people of Turkey and Syria.”
The new spherical of funding contains $50 million underneath the Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Funds for emergency response efforts and an extra $50 million in humanitarian help via the State Department and USAID, in accordance with the State Department.
The newest funding brings the whole American help to $185 million. Private US nongovernmental organizations have already contributed one other $66 million to response efforts up to now, in accordance with a truth sheet offered by the State Department.
“Immediately after the earthquake hit, the United States and other countries jumped in,” Blinken stated.
Efforts to retrieve survivors have been hampered by a chilly winter spell throughout quake-stricken areas, whereas authorities grapple with the logistical challenges of transporting help into northwestern Syria amid an acute humanitarian disaster compounded by years of political strife.
Blinken acknowledged that reduction efforts in Syria had been “very, very challenging” however vowed, “We’ll do everything we can, including making sure, for example, there’s absolutely no doubt that whatever sanctions against Syria do not affect the provision of humanitarian assistance.”
“They never have, but we’re going to make sure that we clear up any doubts about that so that anyone who’s able to can make sure they’re helping out in getting the aid to the folks who need it in Syria,” he stated.
Blinken additionally met Sunday with representatives of the Syria Civil Defense volunteer group, referred to as the White Helmets, in southern Turkey and dedicated US assist to the group and different organizations “providing life-saving aid in response to this tragedy,” he stated in a tweet.
The White Helmets have been doing the heavy lifting within the search, rescue and restoration operations within the rebel-controlled areas in north and northwestern Syria.
The group tweeted Sunday that members briefed Blinken on the response to the earthquake and the present scenario in northwestern Syria, together with “the humanitarian situation, ways to support affected civilians, and mechanisms for achieving early recovery.”
Turkey’s catastrophe administration authority stated Sunday it had ended most search and rescue operations almost two weeks after the earthquake struck as consultants say the probabilities of survival for individuals trapped within the rubble this far into the catastrophe are unlikely.
Some efforts stay within the provinces of Kahramanmaraş and Hatay. On Saturday, a pair and their 12-year-old baby had been rescued in Hatay, 296 hours after the earthquake, state news company Anadolu reported.
Blinken instructed reporters at Incirlik Air Base that it was “going to take a massive effort to rebuild, but we’re committed to supporting Turkey in that effort.”
“The most important thing right now is to get assistance to people who need it to get them through the winter and get them back on their feet,” he added.
Source web site: www.cnn.com
