Blinken promises further US support for Türkiye, Syria
The United States will continue to support people in Türkiye and Syria recovering from devastating earthquakes, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a visit to the hard-hit region.
“The United States is here, we stand firm with the people of Türkiye and the people of Syria,” Blinken said at Incirlik Air Base near Adana, Türkiye, on Feb. 19 after surveying the damage in Hatay province had. “And we’re going to stick with it until we’ve all done the work.”
On the same day, Blinken announced an additional $100 million in aid for reconstruction, bringing total U.S. aid to the people of Türkiye and Syria since the February 6 earthquake to $185 million.
These funds follow President Biden’s dispatch of search and rescue teams to Türkiye shortly after the first earthquake. US-funded partner organizations have saved lives and reunited families in Syria.
The US military has delivered 200 tons of supplies, including tents, food, clean water, blankets, hygiene kits and shelter, to the areas hit by the earthquake. And people across the United States are donating everything from warm clothing and baby food to batteries, medicine and shoes to help earthquake survivors.
In a joint news conference in Ankara with Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu on February 20, Blinken said the US public and private sector had donated nearly $80 million in support for the response.
“We are grateful for this support, both from the US government and the people of the United States of America,” Çavuşoğlu said. “We would like to thank them for the solidarity and support they have shown during these dire days.”
In a meeting with the Syrian Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets, Blinken said the United States is committed to expanding access to earthquake-hit areas in Syria and providing assistance through humanitarian partners. The White Helmets, a longtime US partner, rescued more than 2,900 people from the rubble.
“The United States is proud to join the global effort to assist Türkiye, a valued and longtime friend, partner and NATO ally,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said on February 19. “The United States will commit to doing whatever is necessary in both Turkiye and Syria for as long as it takes to provide needed assistance to those affected by these earthquakes.”
