US will proceed to work along with Türkiye to assist help the individuals affected by final month’s huge earthquakes, says Erika Olson, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State within the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs.
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A senior US diplomat has mentioned that the US will proceed to work via the “long haul” to help these affected by main earthquakes that struck Türkiye’s southern provinces.
“When friends are in need at their darkest hour, that is when we are there for each other,” US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State within the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Erika Olson informed Anadolu Agency on Friday.
“Türkiye has been there for the United States throughout the years. And we are there for Türkiye during this time. So, we will continue to do that,” she mentioned when requested how “earthquake diplomacy” will have an effect on relations between the 2 international locations.
“We will continue to work together to help support the people and appreciate the cooperation that we have with the government of Türkiye,” she mentioned.
Olson was a part of a US delegation that accompanied US Secretary of State Antony Blinken throughout his go to to Türkiye late final month, the place he toured earthquake-hit Hatay province, the Incirlik Air Base in Adana, and had conferences with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Ankara.
She served as an financial counsellor for the US Mission in Türkiye between 2016 and 2019, the place she frolicked in southern provinces that have been affected by the latest earthquakes.
‘US with Türkiye through long haul’
Olson mentioned it was “heartbreaking” seeing the destruction by the earthquakes.
“And myself, personally, and the United States, we’re really happy to be able to stand with the people of Türkiye and to help provide assistance as they recover from what is an incomprehensible natural disaster,” she mentioned.
Regarding US help within the aftermath of the quakes, Olson mentioned Washington has been in contact with the Turkish authorities from the “very beginning,”
“As the secretary (Bilken) said: the United States is with Türkiye through the long haul when it comes to recovery.”
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Mobile hospital in Hatay province
Noting that groups from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and concrete search and rescue groups have been on the bottom “immediately following the earthquake,” she mentioned, including, the US can also be constructing a cellular hospital in Hatay to assist victims.
The 100-person subject hospital, which has been arrange by the US navy and USAID, can be handed to the Turkish Ministry of Health on March 7, she mentioned.
The hospital focuses “on intensive care and surgery needs that will be there to support the people of the region,” based on the diplomat.
The US has introduced a complete of $185 million in humanitarian help to Türkiye and Syria following the 7.7- and seven.6-magnitude earthquakes, centred within the Kahramanmaras province, which have killed greater than 45,000 in Türkiye and 6,000 in Syria, and affected tens of millions of others.
Asked how the funds are being distributed, Olson mentioned they’re being utilized in “many different ways,” akin to offering cellular hospitals, medical wants, meals and fast wants in addition to sanitary, hygiene.
“But as the Secretary just announced the additional 100 million, how that will be used going into the future will depend on the needs and the conversations that we have with those in the ground,” she mentioned.
Olson mentioned the US personal sector raised greater than $100 million to assist individuals affected by the quakes as she praised the efforts of odd Americans.
READ MORE: US House passes decision mourning deaths in Türkiye, Syria quakes
Source: TRTWorld and businesses
Source: www.trtworld.com
