MEPs debate with the Commission the EU’s emergency and humanitarian response to the catastrophic earthquake. A massive magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit near the south-eastern Turkish city of Gaziantep, followed by a magnitude 7.6 aftershock later the same day. International estimates suggest the devastation caused by the earthquake could claim up to 20 000 lives. It has destroyed tens of thousands of buildings in the region, and left hundreds of thousands without a home. Extracts from the opening statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, minute of silence and announcements by Janez LENARČIČ, European Commissioner for Crisis Management.

EU - Syria (T)

debate

plenary session

EU - Türkiye (T)

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

natural disasters (T)

LENARČIČ, Janez (SI, EC)

LAGODINSKY, Sergey (Greens/EFA, DE)

EU´s response to the earthquake in Türkiye and Syria: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, Last week, a devastating series of earthquakes hit T&uuml;rkiye and Syria, causing almost unimaginable destruction. Tens of thousands of people have been killed.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, Right now, our thoughts are with the families of those killed, those trapped, those injured. And with all the rescuers fighting the clock night and day to save lives.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, I invite you to join me for a minute of silence. In honour of the many victims of this tragic earthquake.

SOUNDBITE (English), Janez LENAR&#268;I&#268;, European Commissioner for Crisis Management, Just hours after the earthquake, the European Union mobilised search and rescue teams for Turkey. The European Union's civil protection mechanism has offered 32 search and rescue teams and six medical teams from 21 EU member states and three other European participating states.

SOUNDBITE (English), Janez LENAR&#268;I&#268;, European Commissioner for Crisis Management, We have sent 500 temporary accommodation units, 2000 tents and 8000 beds to Turkey. From these European strategic reserves. In addition, 16 Member States have already offered various shelter items to help people in Turkey. We have also allocated an additional &euro;3 million to humanitarian partners to meet the most urgent need across the affected locations in Turkey.

SOUNDBITE (English), Janez LENAR&#268;I&#268;, European Commissioner for Crisis Management, The Commission also allocated an additional &euro;3.5 million in emergency humanitarian funding to help our partners address urgent needs in Syria. They are already providing water and sanitation support, distributing blankets, hot meals, tents and hygiene items.

SOUNDBITE (English), Janez LENAR&#268;I&#268;, European Commissioner for Crisis Management, Considering the enormous needs the European Commission and the Swedish Presidency of the Council will host next month the donors conference in support for the people of Turkey and Syria.

SOUNDBITE (German), Sergey LAGODINSKY (Greens/EFA, DE), Chair of the D-TR: The Delegation to the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee, I've spoken to people from Turkey and Syria and they're all calling for one thing ensure that this aid genuinely gets through to those who need it. Ensure that those who need it can travel into the EU, not after some time in red tape, let immediately for treatment and give EU money to organisations that are not recognised by the Assad regime. I'm talking about the White Helmets in particular. Let's not allow Assad to decide who lives and who dies.