News item | 15-02-2023 | 07:28
The Netherlands is donating an extra 10 million euros for aid to the victims of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria. The money is intended for food, water, medical care and shelter.
This was announced by Minister Liesje Schreinemacher (Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation) on Wednesday in the TV program Good Morning Netherlands during a special broadcast in the context of the national action day of Giro555. “This is a really big disaster for the people of Turkey and the people of Syria. But also for the Turkish and Syrian community in the Netherlands. It is very nice to see that so many people and so many countries have taken immediate action,’ says the minister.
‘But we’re not there yet. Much food, water, medicine is needed. People are in acute need. As a cabinet, we help ensure that those things also reach the right place, with the people who need it most.’ Schreinemacher hopes that the action day will generate a lot of money to be able to do even more on site. “I really hope that people who can spare something will also contribute to the day of action for Giro555. Because that help is so desperately needed.’
The 10 million euros for Giro555 comes on top of the 10 million euros that the cabinet released last week for emergency aid in Syria. Shortly after the earthquake, the Netherlands also sent the search and rescue team USAR to Turkey, which brought twelve people alive from under the rubble. A Dutch transport aircraft with medical facilities also flies to Turkey to transport injured people from the disaster area to hospitals.