In the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes that struck Türkiye and Syria earlier this week, the EU is running one of its largest search and rescue operations through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to help save as many lives as possible.

Commissioner Janez Lenarčič in his role as crisis coordinator of the EU’s response arrived in Gaziantep and will be meeting with the Vice-President of Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management and with the cross-border humanitarian partners from Northwest Syria. Together with the EU Civil Protection Team and the EU’s Humanitarian Aid Office in Gaziantep, he will be visiting the disaster site and ongoing rescue operations.

EU support to Syria

After yesterday’s activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism for Syria, the EU’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre is closely coordinating with EU Member States and the Mechanism’s Participating States to channel emergency assistance to the Syrian people as rapidly as possible.

Italy and Romania have already made first offers including, family tents, sleeping bags, mattresses, beds, food items, winter clothing, and more.

Today, on 9 February, the World Food Programme has requested assistance via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to support the affected people in Syria. This will allow further EU aid to be channeled.

The EU and its Member States are together the largest donors of humanitarian aid for Syria, having provided over €27 billion since 2011. In Syria, the EU has provided €3.5 million in emergency funding to help humanitarian partners address urgent needs which include cash for shelter and non-food items, water and sanitation, health, and search and rescue following the earthquake.