Saudi Arabia, Kuwait Among Largest Donors for Turkey Earthquake Fund

Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have been named among the largest five donors of humanitarian aid to Turkey following the deadly earthquake on February 6th.

The UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) spokesman, Jens Laerke, said that donors had contributed $268 million in response to the $1 billion humanitarian funding appeal for relief work in Turkey. 

Laerke added that the largest donors were Saudi Arabia, the US, Kuwait, the European Commission, and the UN Central Emergency Response Fund.

He did not specify the contribution from each donor.

The UN and other humanitarian agencies have reached 4.1 million people with basic household items and clothes, 3 million with emergency food aid, and 1.6 million with water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) assistance, while 700,000 people have received support to improve their living quarters.

We have news today on our #Türkiye #earthquake response.@UN & partners have reached 4.1M ppl with relief items for cooking, heating, sleeping.

700K have received emergency housing support.

3M received food assistance & 1.6M water.

Thanks for $268M in donor support so far. pic.twitter.com/9682tjn1tD

— Jens Laerke (@JensLaerke) March 31, 2023

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. 

Over 50,000 people were killed in Turkey and Syria after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit southeast Turkey and northern Syria on February 6th. 

The earthquake is considered one of the most powerful quakes in the region in recent years.