The death toll from the earthquake in Turkey and Syria has exceeded 21,000, while the United States has announced an initial $85 million emergency aid package for the affected areas of both countries.
The United States Agency for International Development said the aid is being provided to partners working in affected areas to provide immediate food, shelter and emergency health care to millions of people in need. can be done
Last Monday’s earthquake affected ten provinces of Turkey, in which President Erdogan has declared a state of emergency that will last for three months. The process of evacuating people from the rubble of buildings destroyed by the earthquake is still going on.
In a statement, the US agency said that the aid will also ensure the supply of clean drinking water in the earthquake-affected areas to prevent the outbreak of diseases.
The aid agency’s statement came after US Secretary of State Anthony Blanken’s telephone conversation with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu regarding the needs of earthquake victims.
US State Department Spokesman Ned Price told reporters about the telephone conversation with the Secretary of State and said, “We are proud to be a part of the global relief effort in Turkey, as Turkish humanitarian rescue experts have done in the past around the world.” participated in the efforts.’
The US has already sent rescue teams to Turkey with concrete block breakers, generators, water purification systems and helicopters, the officials said.
U.S. aid for earthquake victims in Turkey’s neighboring country, Syria, will be provided through local partners there.
The US government has no direct ties to the government of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria and has been demanding accountability for human rights abuses by government forces during the civil war.
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