Earthquake in Türkiye and Syria: EU sends search and rescue teams

Support to Syria

On the morning of 8 February, the Syrian authorities requested to activate the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The request includes search and rescue teams, shelter and medicine.

• The EU Emergency Response Coordination Centre is in contact with EU Member States and the United Nations to immediately channel possible offers to the people most in need in Syria.
• In addition, the Commission is also announcing today an initial €3.5 million in emergency humanitarian assistance for Syria to help people in need to access shelter, water and sanitation, health various items they currently need, as well as to support the search and rescue operations.
• Moreover, in Syria the EU is closely cooperating with our humanitarian partners. We are adjusting our ongoing humanitarian projects to respond to the crisis. Our partners, NGOs and UN agencies, are supporting affected medical facilities with medical kits, providing food and shelter, repairing damaged infrastructure.

Support to Türkiye

In Türkiye, following the request on Monday, 6 February to activate the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, EU support now includes:

• An initial €3 million in emergency assistance to boost response efforts in the country.
• This comes on top of the 31 search and rescue teams and 5 medical teams offered by 20 EU Member States and Albania, Montenegro and Serbia via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The teams comprise over 1,500 rescuers and 100 search and rescue dogs.
• Additionally, today Türkiye asked for shelter items via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. Already Germany, Lithuania and Slovenia have offered blankets, tents and heaters.

Source: European Commission

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In the night of 6 February 2023, a powerful earthquake of 7.8 magnitude struck Türkiye and Syria. The earthquake was one of the strongest in the region in over 100 years.

The EU has responded immediately to Türkiye’s request to activate the EU civil protection mechanism.

Urban search and rescue teams have been mobilised from Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, France, Greece, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, and Romania to support the first responders on the ground.

Italy, Spain, and Slovakia have offered their rescue teams to Türkiye as well. The EU’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) is in direct contact with the authorities in Türkiye to coordinate further support, if needed.

The EU’s Copernicus satellite system has also been activated to provide emergency mapping services.

In addition, the Swedish Presidency has decided to activate the integrated political crisis response (IPCR) in full mode to coordinate EU support measures, in close collaboration with the European Commission.

Source: Eupean Council