For Immediate Release

Office of Press Relations
press@usaid.gov

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The below is attributable to Spokesperson Jessica Jennings:

Today, Administrator Samantha Power spoke with international partners as the USAID search and rescue teams arrived in the region to respond to the devastating earthquake in Türkiye and Syria.

In a call with UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths, Administrator Power discussed the response in Syria and the ongoing operational coordination between the USAID DART and search and rescue teams in Türkiye. Mr. Griffiths raised the immediate needs of food and resources to both sides of the border in Türkiye and Syria. The two discussed the urgency of opening additional border crossings to ensure UN assistance can be provided at scale to northwest Syria.

Administrator Power spoke with the UN’s Special Envoy for Syria, Geir O. Pedersen, about the race against the clock to rescue people still trapped in the rubble and the support needed from the international community in Syria. Administrator Power and Mr. Pedersen also raised the sustained needs that will come when the search and rescue missions are complete.

Yesterday, Administrator Power also spoke with Hamdi Ulukaya, founder and CEO of Chobani, about the importance of mobilizing private sector resources to support the people of Türkiye and Syria. Administrator Power commended Mr. Ulukaya for Chobani’s pledge to match contributions to the Turkish Philanthropy Funds.

Earthquake in Türkiye and Syria Feb 2023 Samantha Power
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