Monitoring Desk
WASHINGTON: The US on Thursday announced an initial $85 million aid package for emergency relief following a devastating quake in Turkey and Syria.
According to the US Agency for International Development the aid will go to partners on the ground “to provide urgently needed assistance for millions of people” including through shelter, food, and emergency health services.
US aid agency announces $85 million package for Turkey, Syria
In a statement, the USAID said that the aid package will also support safe drinking water to prevent the outbreak of disease in the area.
The announcement comes following US Secretary of State Antony Blinken earlier Thursday held telephonic talks with his Turkish counterpart Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu to discuss Ankara’s needs after the devastating earthquake.
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US State Department spokesperson Ned Price told the media persons that they are proud to join the international efforts to assist Turkey just.
The US had already sent rescue workers and teams to Turkey and has contributed concrete generators, water purification systems, breakers and helicopters, officials added.
US-Turkey and Syria
After major damage to bridges and roads, the US military has also sent Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters to shift supplies, officials said.
Assistance in Syria is going via local partners as the US refuses to deal with President of Syria Bashar al-Assad as it (US) demands accountability on abuses during the civil war.
An aid and relief convoy earlier Thursday arrived in rebel-held northwestern Syria for the first time since the quake, going via the only open border crossing — Bab al-Hawa on the Turkish side.
Moscow, the key international supporter of Assad’s government, has exercised its veto power at the UNSC to stop other crossings and allow Bab al-Hawa only six-month at a time as it tries to promote the sovereignty of the Syrian government. Ned Price said that they call on Syrian’s government to immediately permit aid in via all border crossings and to let humanitarians access all people in Syria in need without exceptions.
