United States: The US Secretary of State Mr. Antony Blinken has visited Hatay, one of the provinces worst affected by the February 6 earthquake in southern Turkey and northern Syria, and offered a further $100 million in aid to help the region.

The visit came after Turkey ended rescue efforts in all provinces except the two hardest hit by the earthquake that killed tens of thousands of people.

The disaster agency’s chief Mr. Yunus Sezer recently commented that “in many of our provinces, search and rescue efforts have been completed. They continue in Kahramanmaras and Hatay provinces.”

Earlier, US President Mr. Joe Biden announced $85 million for Turkey and Syria days after the earthquake, which has killed more than 46,000 people in the two countries. Furthermore, the US has sent a search-and-rescue team as well as medical supplies and equipment.

“This is going to be a long-term effort. Unfortunately, the search and rescue is coming to an end. The recovery is on, and then there will be a massive rebuilding operation,” Mr. Blinken shared at Incirlik Air Base, a joint US-Turkish facility that has coordinated the distribution of disaster aid.

According to Mr. Blinken, the additional aid includes $50 million in emergency refugee and migration funds and $50 million in humanitarian assistance.

The secretary of state is making his first trip to NATO ally Turkey since he took office in 2021.

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