The cabinet is making an extra 10 million euros available for aid to victims of the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. This was announced by Liesje Schreinemacher (Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation) on Wednesday.
That money for Giro555 comes on top of the 10 million euros that the cabinet already released last week for emergency aid in Syria.
Schreinemacher made this known in the TV program good morning Netherlands, which marks the National Day of Action. The program started on Wednesday morning in Sound & Vision in Hilversum. In addition, action chairman Michiel Servaes announced that the counter for Giro555 now stands at more than 28.6 million euros.
According to him, there is so much involvement because the Netherlands has a large Turkish and Syrian community. “But also because it really is a human drama, on such a large scale. People in the Netherlands feel that. The images we see from the disaster area are of course very penetrating and hit hard.”
Money from the emergency fund is immediately spent
The emergency aid from the organizations affiliated with Giro555 started immediately. “The money is therefore immediately spent,” says Servaes. Part goes to emergency aid such as food, water, blankets and shelter. Materials were also purchased that were useful in the search and rescue of survivors. Another part is intended for long-term help, such as tents and sanitary and psychosocial help.
Shortly after the earthquake, the Netherlands also sent the search and rescue team USAR to Turkey. They pulled twelve people alive from under the rubble. A Dutch transport plane also flies to Turkey with medical aids to transport the injured to hospitals.
Other rescue teams also searched for survivors. Most searches have now been discontinued, but people were still being pulled alive from under the rubble on day nine after the earthquake.
Well-known Dutch people help on national day of action
On the national action day, more than 170 well-known Dutch people help as part of the call panel or on social media. Representatives from the Turkish and Syrian communities and religious leaders are also helping.
The next Giro555 standings will be announced around 1.30 pm. The live broadcast on NPO1 will start at 8.30 pm. It is performed by Chantal Janzen. Jeroen Pauw and Eva Jinek have conversations at the table.
Ontvang meldingen bij nieuws over de aardbevingen in Turkije en Syrië
