The European Union (EU) and international donors pledged €7 billion to support people affected by the devastating earthquakes of February in Syria and Turkey, the EU announced on Tuesday.
The EU and the international donors pledged their support during the International Donors’ Conference that was hosted by Brussels and organized in coordination with the Turkish authorities.
The Conference was co-hosted by the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and Sweden Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.
Ursula von der Leyen said, “We have raised €7 billion in total to support the people” in both countries devastated by the earthquakes.
She stressed the EU’s commitment to supporting people in need and “we always stand by our partners.”
At the Conference, Sweden announced raising its total support to those affected by the earthquakes in Syria and Turkey to €45 million.
Johan Forssell, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, said, “The Government is proud to announce that Sweden’s total support now amounts to 45 million euros.”
Sweden’s Prime Minister said, “Today’s meeting had one important goal: to turn our words of condolences and solidarity into action.”
He welcomed the “substantial results” of the Conference, confirming that “these are important first steps to help relief and recovery efforts in the earthquake-stricken areas.”
The moderators of the Conference were Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell and Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhely.
The Donors’ Conference was attended by representatives of EU Member States, candidate countries and potential candidate countries, neighboring countries and partner countries, G20 countries (except for Russia), Gulf Cooperation Council Member States, the United Nations, international organizations, humanitarian actors, and international and European financial institutions.
