In the aftermath of the earthquakes that rocked both Syria and Türkiye, the humanitarian needs on the ground continue to increase. The EU has been responding to the disaster since day one and is now scaling up its assistance to the people affected.

Syria

The first flight from the EU’s humanitarian stockpile in Dubai is landing today in Adana, from where it will be delivered to non-government controlled Northwest Syria by the EU’s humanitarian partner International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

It is one of the three flights organised via the European Humanitarian Response Capacity delivering winterised tents, heaters, kitchen sets, hygiene kits and more to people affected by the earthquake. The next two flights are arriving next week and are coordinated with Ireland.

12 European countries (Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Romania, Slovenia, and Norway) have offered in-kind assistance to Syrian people via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The aid is being channelled via hubs in Beirut and Gaziantep where EU civil protection experts help coordinate the incoming donations.

Several planes from Romania have already arrived in Beirut and Gaziantep, and the first deliveries to Syria have already taken place. Shelter items from Bulgaria and medicines from Cyprus have also arrived in Beirut. Today, a ship from Italy is also arriving in Beirut to deliver large family tents.

Since the disaster hit Syria, the EU has mobilised €10 million of humanitarian aid to offer rapid relief to earthquake victims. This includes €3.7 million newly allocated funds, and more than €6 million redirected funds from ongoing humanitarian projects.