The European Union called on other international partners and global donors to show solidarity with the people in Türkiye and Syria in these difficult circumstances by mobilizing pledges in line with the scale and magnitude of the damage.

Therefore, on 20 March in Brussels, the European Commission and the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU will host an International Donors’ Conference to support the people in Türkiye and Syria affected by the recent devastating earthquakes.

Co-hosted by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and by Prime Minister of Sweden, Ulf Kristersson, for the Swedish Presidency of the Council, and organized in coordination with the Turkish authorities, the Donors' Conference will be open to EU Member States, candidate countries and potential candidates, neighboring and partner countries, G20 members – except for Russia – Member States of the Gulf Cooperation, as well as the UN, international organizations, humanitarian actors and international and European financial institutions.

“Six weeks after the devastating earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria, we come together to support the survivors of this tragedy. Our solidarity will continue to be as strong as it was in the first hours after the earthquake. The people in Türkiye and Syria should know that we are with them for the long run. I invite all nations and all donors, public and private, to contribute and honor the memory of the lives lost, the heroism of the first responders, and most importantly to build together a better future for the survivors,” said President Ursula von der Leyen.

"The earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria are a disaster of historic proportions. I’m saddened by the loss of lives and homes and human suffering. The consequences are truly horrendous. As President of the Council of the European Union, Sweden will do everything in our power, together with the EU and international partners, to help those affected in the next phases of the rehabilitation and early recovery,” said Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.

Preparations for the International Donors' Conference are underway following the initial discussions between Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi, Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell, and the Turkish authorities during their recent visit to Ankara. (ILKHA)