Saudi Arabia has been named among the largest donors of humanitarian aid to Turkey following the massive earthquakes which cause tens of thousands dead in one of the region’s deadliest-ever disasters.
The UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has praised donors who donated the sum of $268 million in response to the $1 billion humanitarian funding appeal for Turkey following the devastating earthquakes, Saudi’s state news agency SPA reported Saturday.
Jens Laerke, an OCHA spokesperson confirmed that the appeal for $1 billion humanitarian funding has achieved 27 percent of its target and the largest contributors were Saudi Arabia, the United States, Kuwait, the European Commission, and the UN Central Emergency Response Fund.
The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) provided the aid under the directives of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. As well as financial aid, Saudi Arabia has provided tents, temporary housing, shelter materials, clothing, blankets, and mattresses. Laerke also demanded countries continue to provide aid and donate to finance the appeal.
Around nine million people were instantly affected since the February 6 devastating earthquake while three million people have been displaced. More than 50,000 people were killed in Turkey and neighboring Syria in the disaster.
Laerke said that the United Nations humanitarian agencies have reached more than 4.1 million people with non-food aid, and three million people with emergency food assistance, while more than 700,000 people have received support to improve their living quarters, including tents, relief housing units, and tents repair tools.
He added that 1.6 million people received water and sanitation assistance and hygiene, and about 1 million liters of drinking water were delivered.
The UN official indicated that the Turkish Ministry of Health has been supported with 4.6 million vaccine doses, and 16 mobile health clinics, in addition to medicines and medical supplies for reproductive health and treatment of trauma and injuries.
