Turkey
Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlut Cavusoglu and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken touring the quake-hit areas of Turkey by helicopter on February 19, 2023. Photo: Mevlut Cavusoglu/Twitter
Erbil, Kurdistan Region - US secretary of state Antony Blinken on Sunday announced $100 million in humanitarian aid for quake-struck areas in Turkey and Syria as Ankara’s rescue efforts come to an end.
Blinken landed at the Incirlik base in Adana province on an official visit and toured the disaster areas with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu by helicopter.
The secretary of state expressed his shock regarding the magnitude of the disaster. "It's really hard to put into words. You see buildings still standing and then buildings collapsed - roofs destroyed, and right next to it something that's still standing. But it gives you some sense of the scale of this." Blinken told the reporters at the base.
Yunus Sezer, the head of Turkey’s disaster agency (AFAD) told reporters that rescue efforts have stopped in eight of the disaster-struck provinces but that rescue efforts continue in Hatay and Kahramanmaras.
Blinken pledged an additional $100 million in fresh aid to “assist those who are also in need” in both Turkey and Syria following Washington’s previous contribution of $85 million..
He also thanked Turkey for allowing humanitarian assistance to reach northwest Syria. Blinken also met with representatives of Syria’s Civil Defense, also known as the White Helmets.
Honored to meet representatives of @SyriaCivilDef in Türkiye today. Thank you for your heroic efforts to rescue Syrians after the earthquakes. The United States is proud to support you and other organizations providing life-saving aid in response to this tragedy. pic.twitter.com/zlRZ3TOH79
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) February 19, 2023
Blinken and Cavusolglu are expected to have their official meeting on Monday, according to a statement by the Turkish foreign affairs ministry.
Both NATO allies are expected to discuss earthquake relief plus Sweden and Finland's bid to join the North Atlantic pact.
A destructive earthquake devastated southern Turkey and parts of Syria on February 6, killing over 46,000 people in both countries and leaving hundreds of thousands injured and homeless.
The US, as well as many countries in the world, was quick to send humanitarian and logistic aid to help relieve the disaster areas.
This is Blinken's first Turkey visit since taking on office in 2021.
US and Turkey had a strained relationship since 2019 when Ankara acquired a Russian missile defense system.
Despite Turkey's close ties with Russia and US concerns, Turkey was praised for some of its mediatory actions in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
By Azhi Rasul
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