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EU grants $431m to Turkey for post-quake recovery

By Pramod Kumar
The EU grant will help with the repair of Turkey's infrastructure, especially in health, education and water Reuters
The EU grant will help with the repair of Turkey's infrastructure, especially in health, education and water

The European Union (EU) has signed an agreement with Turkey to provide a €400 million ($431 million) grant to support development following the devastating earthquakes in early 2023.

“In the history of this post-disaster relief instrument, this is the largest sum ever awarded to a candidate country. This is also the first time that Turkey receives support from the European Union Solidarity Fund,” state-run Anadolu Agency reported, citing European commissioner for cohesion and reforms Elisa Ferreira.

The fund helps member states and accession countries to handle the financial burden caused by major natural disasters.

She said that the EU has been working with Ankara since the quake disasters took place, adding the grant aims to support the repair of infrastructure, especially in health, education, water, and wastewater.

Ferreira added that the fund will support temporary accommodation, including container cities, as well as secure infrastructure and protect cultural heritage.

“Considering the scale of the devastation, the amount to be released in this agreement will cover only a tiny fraction of our extensive reconstruction efforts,” said Turkish deputy foreign minister Mehmet Kemal Bozay.

The February 6, 2023, earthquakes killed a total of 53,537 people and injured more than 107,000. More than 14 million people were affected, along with many others in northern Syria.

The quakes inflicted a $103.6 billion hit on the Turkish economy, according to the Strategy and Budget Department of the Office of the President.

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