LIVE STREAMING 20.03.2023 in BRUSSELS
On 6 February 2023, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake, followed by two devastating tremors, struck Türkiye and Syria, causing widespread destruction, and killing tens of thousands of people.
To help mobilise support from the international community in dealing with the devastating aftermath, President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and Prime Minister of Sweden, Ulf Kristersson, as the Presidency of the Council of the EU, will jointly host a Donors' Conference on 20 March 2023 in Brussels.
The aim of the Donors’ Conference is to raise funds and coordinate the relief response in the areas affected in both countries. The conference will be organised in coordination with Turkish authorities.
Six weeks after the devastating earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria, we come together to support the survivors of this tragedy. Our solidarity will continue to be as strong as it was in the first hours after the earthquake. The people in Türkiye and Syria should know that we are with them for the long run. I invite all nations and all donors, public and private, to contribute and honour the memory of the lives lost, the heroism of the first responders and most importantly to build together a better future for the survivors.
Participants
The Conference will be open to all EU Member States, to neighbouring countries, the UN, international financial institutions, and other relevant stakeholders that wish to contribute and to support the relief efforts. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is currently preparing a post-disaster needs assessment to inform the donors ahead of the conference about the reconstruction and rehabilitation needs.
The Commissioner in charge of Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, Olivér Várhelyi, and the Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, Johan Forssell will jointly chair the Conference.
The earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria is a disaster of historic proportions. I’m saddened by the losses of lives and homes, and the human suffering. The consequences are truly horrendous. As President of the Council of the European Union, Sweden will do everything in our power, together with the EU and international partners, to help those affected in the next phases of the rehabilitation and early recovery.
A comprehensive EU response
The EU has already been active in supporting Türkiye and Syria, with the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism being activated immediately after the natural disaster hit.
Teams of structural engineers and in-kind assistance are also being mobilised through the mechanism and bilaterally. An EU Civil Protection Team is currently in Türkiye to coordinate the international response. In Syria, EU humanitarian partners are on the ground supporting those affected by the earthquake, including water and sanitation support, and distributing blankets and hygiene items in affected areas.
