Over $7.5B raised to support Türkiye, Syria after quakes at EU donors' conference

BRUSSELS

An EU donors conference on Monday raised over €7 billion ($7.5 billion) to support Türkiye and Syria in the aftermath of last month's powerful earthquakes.

"The total pledges amount to €7 billion," Swedish Premier Ulf Kristersson announced at the end of the Together for the People in Türkiye and Syria International Donors' Conference.

Kristersson said the fundraiser had "reached its goal" to provide relief, recovery, and rehabilitation after the devastating natural disaster.

The event was co-hosted by the European Commission and the Swedish government, which assumed the turning presidency of the Council of the EU on Jan. 1.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, also welcomed the pledges.

"Thank you very much for showing the people of Syria and Turkey that they are not alone, that we care, and we are here to help," she said.

At a press conference following the fundraiser, she said "team Europe," meaning EU institutions and member states, pledged a total of €3.3 billion for people in Türkiye and Syria.

The European Commission itself pledged €1 billion for reconstruction in Türkiye and a further package of €108 million for humanitarian assistance and early recovery in Syria.

The European Investment Bank, backed by the EU budget, also offered €500 million in loans with favorable conditions to Türkiye.

"Just like we were rapidly by the side of the people affected with emergency support, we are now by their side for recovery and reconstruction," she further said.

Von der Leyen explained that the EU was ready to share its "expertise and experience on building seismic resistant houses, schools and hospitals," and to "work together to build environmentally friendly houses to reduce energy rules and the impact on the climate."

On Feb. 6, magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 quakes struck southern and southeastern Türkiye, claiming the lives of over 50,000 people.

Some 13.5 million people have been affected across 11 provinces in Türkiye, namely Kahramanmaras, Hatay, Gaziantep, Adiyaman, Malatya, Adana, Diyarbakir, Kilis, Osmaniye, Sanliurfa, and Elazig.

In neighboring Syria, at least 4,500 people were killed and more than 8,700 injured.