US private sector raises over $110M to aid Türkiye quake victims

The US Chamber of Commerce has stated the nation’s personal sector raised greater than $110 million for earthquake reduction for Türkiye because the US-Türkiye Business Forum convened in Washington, DC.

As the business folks, diplomats and representatives from each Türkiye and the US gathered for the discussion board within the US capital on Monday, a minute of silence was held by the members to honour the victims of the Feb. 6 earthquakes.

In his opening remarks, Khush Choksy, the US Chamber of Commerce’s Senior Vice President for the Middle East and Türkiye Affairs, stated almost 200 firms collectively contributed over $110 million to the preliminary part of restoration efforts.

Recalling the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s assembly final week with the Chamber to speak concerning the assist for the folks of Türkiye after the devastating earthquakes, Choksy stated that it is a “critical time” to construct the US-Türkiye business relationship.

Rifat Hisarciklioglu, President of Union on Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye, for his half, stated that the earthquake-hit area is among the many “economically significant regions of Türkiye”, particularly by way of trade and agriculture sectors.

Adding that hundreds of search and rescue groups from 90 international locations got here to assist Türkiye, he stated: “We are also thankful for the solidarity of the US Chamber of Commerce, US business, US government and the international community.”

READ MORE:
All means mobilised in Türkiye after highly effective quakes: Erdogan

‘Next part is rebuilding cities’

Turkish Trade Minister Mehmet Mus additionally addressed the discussion board, saying Türkiye “mobilised all the resources and means of the state for the immediate relief and recovery.”

“From now on, our priority is to make necessary preparations and build safe residential areas with their pre-quake infrastructure, roads, hospitals, schools, houses and workplaces, and so on,” he added.

He stated that Türkiye’s greater industrial services and the area’s small and medium-sized enterprises have been affected by the earthquakes.

“We are undertaking a comprehensive screening to identify the full impact of the disaster on such enterprises,” he stated.

“We are committed to recover our losses at the shortest possible time and will bring our people to their daily life,” he stated, including that the following part shall be “re-building our cities”.

“In this vein, financing is as important as having the technical capacity,” he added.

READ MORE:
Türkiye working arduous to rebuild, enhance quake-hit provinces: Altun

‘Genuine solidarity’

Türkiye’s Ambassador in Washington, DC, Hasan Murat Mercan, stated the “genuine solidarity” prolonged by the worldwide group within the aftermath of the main earthquakes “gives us strength”.

He additionally thanked the US authorities and the personal sector for his or her assist, including: “We are grateful”.

“All Turkish missions in the US are receiving donations of disaster relief items,” he stated, whereas additionally recalling the monetary donations campaigns the diplomatic missions launched shortly after the earthquakes.

He stated hundreds of help supplies have been collected all through the US and have been shipped to Türkiye by Turkish Airlines.

US Ambassador to Türkiye Jeff Flake recalled some highly effective photos from the main earthquakes hitting the southern provinces of Türkiye.

Noting that the US search and rescue groups participated within the reduction efforts in Türkiye, he stated additionally they constructed a subject hospital in Hatay province, which was constructed in 5 days, and was handed over to the Turkish Ministry of Health.

Adding that the US authorities pledged $185 million of help to assist Türkiye and Syria, he additionally praised the “robust and growing” industrial relationship between the US and Türkiye.

READ MORE:
EU’s earthquake fundraiser for Türkiye, Syria to be held on March 20

Source: TRTWorld and companies