Turkey: The United Nations (UN) has appealed for funds worth more than $1 billion for the Turkish earthquake relief operation. The move comes just two days after launching a $400 million appeal for Syrians.

After his recent visit to Turkey, UN aid chief Mr. Martin Griffiths remarked that the people have “experienced unspeakable heartache. We must stand with them in their darkest hour and ensure they receive the support they need.”

UN Secretary-General Mr. Antonio Guterres commented in a statement that the funds would provide humanitarian relief for three months to 5.2 million people.

According to the Secretary-General, the money would allow aid organisations to rapidly scale up vital support, including in the areas of food security, protection, education, water, and shelter.

“The needs are enormous. People are suffering, and there’s no time to lose. I urge the international community to step up and fully fund this critical effort in response to one of the biggest natural disasters of our time,” Mr. Guterres added.

The 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck on February 6, 2023, has killed more than 35,000 people in Turkey, with several thousand more losing their lives across the border in Syria.

According to Ankara, more than nine million people in Turkey have been directly impacted by the disaster. Many of them are Syrian refugees. The UN figures showed that 1.74 million Syrians are living under temporary refugee protection status in the 11 provinces in Turkey impacted by the quake.

Turkey is home to the largest number of refugees in the world and has shown enormous generosity to its Syrian neighbours for years. Now is the time for the world to support the people of Turkey, just as they have stood in solidarity with others seeking assistance,” Mr. Guterres further remarked.

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