Federal politicians are shocked
Germany sends THW to Turkish earthquake region
2/6/2023 12:26 p.m
International aid is starting after the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. Federal Minister of the Interior Faeser announces the deployment of the THW. Caritas Germany activates forces and provides 100,000 euros directly. Federal politicians are shocked by the destruction and the number of victims.
After the severe earthquake in the Turkish-Syrian border area, Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser announced the first emergency aid. “The Technical Relief Agency can provide camps with emergency shelters and water treatment units,” explained Faeser in Berlin. “The THW is already preparing aid deliveries with emergency power generators, tents and blankets and, at my request, is already coordinating closely with the Turkish civil protection”.
“We will set in motion all the help that we can activate,” assured Faeser. Germany is coordinating closely with the EU partners and will “help with all the means that are available to us and are now most urgently needed”. You have already spoken to the Turkish ambassador in Germany, Ahmet Basar Sen, about this.
The Catholic aid organization Caritas International also wants to support the people in Turkey and Syria quickly with the help of its partner organisations. “We have two partners in Turkey who are looking to get help to those affected as quickly as possible,” said a Caritas spokesman. In addition, Caritas Aleppo will take part in aid measures in Syria. Around 100,000 euros were immediately given to the partners as the very first financial aid, with further funds to follow.
Federal policy condolences
“But first we need an accurate picture of the situation,” said the spokesman. A crisis team had been formed. Aid deliveries and search parties would be coordinated by the local partners. In the event of such catastrophes, the local parishes sometimes also distributed food and other relief supplies.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz promised German help to the earthquake victims in the Turkish-Syrian border area. The government is following the news from the region “with dismay,” the chancellor tweeted. “We mourn with the relatives and fear for those buried. Of course, Germany will send help,” he announced without giving details.
Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock made a similar statement. “We will quickly get help with our partners,” she wrote on Twitter. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier was also shocked by the extent of the destruction. He hopes that many more people could be rescued from the rubble.