“In the ruins of the historic city of Antakya today, I have met proud and brave people. The past has been erased, the present is full of suffering and the future is uncertain,” said António Vitorino after a two-day visit to Türkiye, which included meetings with senior Government officials.
“I admire my IOM colleagues and many of our partners people who began to respond within hours of the earthquake, even though they themselves were affected.
‘Now for the long haul’
“But now is a long way; stand in solidarity and act with Türkiye as it rebuilds and create a new future for millions of people whose lives are divided,” added Mr. Vitorino.
He said the sacrifices of countless “humanitarian heroes” who have dug so many people out of the pit will never be forgotten, “and one of the reasons I am here is to pay my respects and Condolences to them, especially the families of those who lost their lives. three IOM staff killed.
“Our Teams overcome complex logistical and coordination problems, as well as personal tragediesto quickly get aid to the affected communities in Türkiye and northwestern Syria.”
Three days after the disaster, the IOM was one of the first UN agencies to restart cross-border assistance, Vitorino noted, while visiting a logistics hub near the border, which plays an important role. important for response activities as a transit point for thousands of tons of aid. introduced into northwestern Syria.
150 trucks and counting
So far in response, IOM has sent more than 150 aid vehicles cross the border.
The UN reports that More than 500,000 people in Syria lost their homes by the earthquake, and in Türkiye, more than 1.9 million people are in temporary shelters, with 2.5 million children in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.
ONE a total of 850.00 children from both countries were displaced, and the United Nations emergency response plans for both countries needed nearly $1.4 billion to pay for the first three months of vital aid. More than five million people across Türkiye need life-saving assistance.
The 2023 response plan for Syria will generally require $4.8 billion, which is the largest humanitarian appeal currently active.
Mr. Vitorino met with Türkiye’s President of Migration Management at a government-run temporary accommodation center for the homeless, including the local community, migrants and some protected Syrians. temporary protection.
Debris of earthquake-damaged buildings on one of the central streets of Antakya city, Hatay.
‘We’ve lost everything’
Nawfal Melish, a Syrian citizens currently living at the centertold the head of the IOM that there was a family that used to live in Hatay and wanted nothing.
“But now we have lost everything. I work in a shop, but it was destroyed by the earthquake, just like my house, but now we will start a new life. We are looking for this move harder than the first onewhen we had to leave Syria because of the war.”
On Friday, in the capital Ankara, Mr. Vitorino met with the head of the Coordination Center of the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management office, Yunus Sezer, a government agency that leads the response.
“I did very impressed with the emergency response of the Turkish Government to the unimaginable disasterHe said, “and I am more proud than ever of the strong relationship IOM has had with this country since our local office first opened more than 30 years ago.
Support to move forward
“We continue to provide our operational capacity and experience to the Government to support them moving forward on the road to recovery”.
The IOM’s call for $161 million to support response efforts in Türkiye and northwestern Syria is currently under 30% funding.
