EU aims to mobilize international support for quake victims, says Sweden

BERLIN

The European Union is planning to organize an international conference next month to mobilize international support after devastating earthquakes in Türkiye, Sweden’s foreign minister said on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters in Helsinki, Tobias Billstrom said last week’s earthquakes had devastating consequences in both Türkiye and neighboring Syria.

“We stand in solidarity with Türkiye and with the Syrian people. We are now focusing on supporting those affected by this tragedy,” he said, adding that they are coordinating efforts closely with Turkish authorities and the UN.

“Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has taken the initiative to organize a donor conference in Brussels in March, hosted by the Swedish EU presidency and the European Commission,” Billstrom said, referring to Sweden holding the bloc’s rotating presidency.

“And we will of course do this in close coordination with Türkiye. The aim is to mobilize international support to the affected areas,” he added.

Over 35,000 people were killed and more than 81,000 others injured in the deadly quakes that jolted southern Türkiye last week, according to the latest official figures.

The magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 earthquakes, centered in the Kahramanmaras province, affected more than 13 million people across 10 provinces, including Adiyaman, Gaziantep and Hatay.

In neighboring Syria, at least 3,688 people were killed and over 14,749 injured.