WORLD NEWS | Blinken tours Turkey quake zone, pledges $100 million in aid

ISTANBUL, Feb. 19 (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken flew by helicopter Sunday to southern Turkey and northern Syria, one of the provinces hardest hit by the Feb. 6 earthquake, and pledged an additional $100 million in aid to help the area.

“This is going to be a long-term effort,” Blinken said at Incerlik Air Force Base, a joint U.S.-Turkish facility that coordinates disaster aid distribution. “Unfortunately, the search and rescue operation is coming to an end. The recovery is underway, and then there will be a massive rebuilding operation.”

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President Joe Biden announced $85 million for Turkey and Syria just days after the earthquake in Turkey and Syria killed more than 44,000 people in both countries. The US has also sent search and rescue teams, medical supplies and equipment.

The additional aid includes a $50 million emergency refugee and immigrant fund and $50 million in humanitarian aid, Blinken said.

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The secretary of state is visiting NATO ally Turkey for the first time since taking office two years ago. Blinken arrived at Incirlik Air Force Base near Adana on Sunday after attending a security conference in Munich, Germany.

He visited Turkey’s Hatay province from the air together with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevrut Cavusoglu. He is expected to meet with U.S. and Turkish service members, as well as families of Turkish servicemen affected by the quake.

“When you look at the extent of the damage, the number of buildings, the number of apartments, the number of houses destroyed, it will take a huge effort to rebuild,” the top U.S. diplomat said after the helicopter tour.

“The most important thing right now is to get help to those who need it, get them through the winter and get them back on their feet,” Blinken said, as nearby troops unloaded aid boxes … We’ll hold on until We get work done. “

Incirlik, home to the U.S. Air Force’s 39th Air Base Wing, has been an important logistical hub for aid distribution. Supplies from around the world have been airlifted to bases and delivered by truck and helicopter to those in need, including hard-to-reach villages.

Blinken will fly to the Turkish capital Ankara later Sunday for discussions with Turkish officials on Monday, including an expected meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In addition to the fallout from the earthquake, Blinken is also expected to discuss Sweden and Finland’s efforts to join NATO, which Turkey has delayed. (Associated Press)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)