As the situation on the ground moves into in a new phase, from rescue to recovery, the UK is committing a further package of support to address urgent humanitarian needs in Turkey and Syria.
The £25 million in new overseas aid will fund additional emergency relief, such as tents and blankets for families made homeless in freezing conditions, and the ongoing deployment of world-class UK medical expertise through the joint MoD-FCDO Field Hospital established in Turkoglu.
It will support the work of the UN and aid agencies on the ground in Syria, helping communities ravaged by war and this national disaster, as well as the recovery effort in Turkey led by the government. There will be a particular focus on protecting women and girls, including by helping with childbirth and midwifery and reducing the risk of gender-based violence for communities who have been displaced.
This builds on the UK’s early response to the earthquake when deployed a UK International Search and Rescue Team in Turkey, increased support to the White Helmets in northwest Syria and rapidly delivered shipments of life-saving items such as emergency shelter, medical equipment, and blankets.
The joint MoD-FCDO Field Hospital, which includes an emergency department, 24/7 operating theatre, and accompanying medical staff, is providing lifesaving medical care by working side-by-side with Turkish medics. UK funding is helping the UN, International, and NGO partners to ensure that aid reaches the millions in need, including 4.9 million who need cross-border aid in northwest Syria following the devastating earthquakes.
UK Minister for Development Andrew Mitchell said: ”As this evolving situation transitions from rescue to recovery, we are seeing thousands of families left homeless by the earthquake, packed into crowded tents or lined up in the streets queuing for hot meals. The UK’s priority is to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches people who need it most and that is why I am pleased to announce this additional funding today, which will be so vital in ensuring those affected can begin to rebuild their lives”.
