Billions put up for quake aid

BRUSSELS, March 21, (KUNA): A total of 7 billion euro (USD 7.5 billion) were pledged by the international community at the ‘Together for the people of Turkiye and Syria’ International Donors’ Conference held in Brussels on Monday.

Co-hosted by the President of the European Union, Ursula von der Leyen, and the Prime Minister of Sweden, Ulf Kristersson, the current holder of the EU Presidency, more than 60 delegations from the European Union, its Member States and partners, including the UN, international and European financial institutions, and other relevant stakeholders gathered in Brussels to mobilise support for the people in Turkiye and Syria after the devastating earthquakes of February 2023 and to coordinate the response in the affected areas in both countries.

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in press statements said: “Today is a very good day for international solidarity. Together with our partners, we have raised 7 billion euro in total to support the people in Türkiye and Syria, following the devastating earthquakes.”

Prime Minister of Sweden, Ulf Kristersson said: “Today’s meeting had one important goal: to turn our words of condolences and solidarity into action. And provide a strong, efficient, and coordinated response to help the people affected by the devastating earthquakes.”

“For the Swedish EU Presidency, we are grateful for the good cooperation with the Commission in arranging today’s conference, and very impressed by the substantial results today, and humbled by the important work ahead of us,” he noted.

Out of 7 billion euro, 6.05 billion euro USD 6.48 billion)is in grants and loans for Turkiye and 950 million euro (USD 1 billion) in grants for Syria, said an European Commission press release.

The European Commission and the EU Member States, as well as the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development represent more than 50 percent of this total pledge of grants, with 3.6 billion euro (USD 3.85 billion), it noted.

On 6 February, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake, followed by two devastating tremors, struck Turkiye and Syria, causing widespread destruction, and killing more than fifty thousand people.

Kuwait’s ambassador to the EU, Belgium and NATO, Nawaf Al-Enezi represented his country at the one-day pledging conference.