Donors’ Conference for victims of the earthquakes

The Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU and the European Commission will host an International Donors’ Conference  20 March in Brussels with the participation of the United Nations to support the people of 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 organised in coordination with the Turkish authorities, the Donors’ Conference will be open to EU Member States, candidate countries and potential candidates, neighbouring and partner countries, G20 members – except for Russia – Member States of the Gulf Cooperation, as well as the UN, international organisations, 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,” says EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. “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 honour the memory of the lives lost, the heroism of the first responders and most importantly to build together a better future for the survivors.”

Ulf Kristersson, the Prime Minister of Sweden. points out that the earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria are a disaster of historic proportions. “I’m saddened by the loss of lives and homes, and the 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.”

Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will virtually address the opening session of Monday's EU-led International Donors' Conference for solidarity with the country after last month's powerful earthquakes, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Sunday. The ministry said in a statement that the conference, which is being organized by the EU Commission and Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, "reflects the solidarity and support following the devastating earthquakes of 6 February." Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu will attend the conference in person and hold bilateral talks with his counterparts on the sidelines, statement added.

Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator, will represent the UN system at the conference.

Background

The International Donors’ Conference will be held back-to-back with the European Humanitarian Forum, co-organised on 20 and 21 March 2023 by the European Commission and the Swedish Council Presidency. The Forum will take place in the context of sharply increasing humanitarian needs, changing geopolitical realities, and shrinking humanitarian space. It will provide a platform for European actors and international community to discuss ongoing humanitarian challenges, including the humanitarian funding gap and the need to broaden the donor base.

In addition to the International Donors’ Conference, on 14-15 June the EU will host the 7th Brussels conference on the Future of Syria and the Region.