EU pledges over $1B for reconstruction in quake-hit Türkiye

By Agnes Szucs

BRUSSELS (AA) – The European Commission pledged on Monday €1 billion (over $1 billion) for the reconstruction of regions hit by the massive earthquakes in Türkiye.

“I am pleased to announce that the European Commission alone will support Türkiye with €1 billion for the post-earthquake reconstruction,” Ursula von der Leyen announced at the Together for the People in Türkiye and Syria International Donors’ Conference.

“Homes, schools, and hospitals must be rebuilt with the highest standards of seismic safety, water and sanitation, and other critical infrastructure must be repaired,” she said.

Von der Leyen also stressed that the EU does not only want to help the victims of the earthquakes “to survive but to rebuild their lives.”

She also announced a further package of €108 million for humanitarian assistance and early recovery in Syria.

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

Some 13.5 million people have been affected in 11 cities, including Kahramanmaras, Adiyaman, Hatay, and Gaziantep.

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