Donors raise 7 billion euros for Turkey, Syria

The European Union and international donors on Monday pledged seven billion euros to help Türkiye and Syria in the aftermath of the earthquake that devastated parts of the neighboring countries last month. The president of the EU’s executive arm, said 3.3 billion euros of the total amount will be raised by the 27-nation bloc.

Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission President said ‘Team Europe pledged today 3.3 billion euros for the people in Turkey and Syria, and in total, with the contribution of the international community, we raised 7 billion euros for the people in Turkey and Syria. This pledge includes 1.1 billion euros from the European Commission and 500 million euros from the European Investment Bank, backed by the EU budget. I think this is a very strong signal, 7 billion by the international community."

The EU said 15.3 million Syrians of a population of 21.3 million already required humanitarian assistance before the earthquake struck.The bloc has been providing humanitarian aid to Syria since 2011 and wants to step it up.