US Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently toured Hatay province, one of the areas worst affected by the February 6 earthquake in southern Turkey and northern Syria. During his visit, Blinken pledged an additional $100 million in aid to help the region. The US has already sent a search-and-rescue team, medical supplies and equipment, and President Joe Biden had previously announced $85 million for Turkey and Syria.
Blinken flew over the devastated Hatay region with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and said that it will take a “massive effort” to rebuild the region. He noted that the search and rescue efforts are coming to an end and that the focus now is on providing assistance to those in need and helping them get back on their feet. Incirlik Air Base, a joint US-Turkish facility, has been a crucial logistics centre for aid distribution, with supplies from around the world being flown in and sent by truck and helicopter to those in need.
The secretary of state is also set to meet with Turkish officials in Ankara, including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. They are expected to discuss not only the effects of the earthquake but also Sweden and Finland’s efforts to join NATO, which Turkey has delayed. Ankara wants Helsinki and Stockholm to take a tougher line against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and another group it blames for a 2016 coup attempt.
The devastating earthquake has killed more than 46,000 people in Turkey and Syria, with rescue teams finding survivors but now slowing down with no survivors found in at least 24 hours. The heartbreaking story of a husband and wife being rescued 12 days after the quake, having been buried under rubble for 296 hours, serves as a reminder of the immense tragedy that has befallen the region. It is now more important than ever that the international community comes together to provide aid and support to those affected by this disaster.