EU to send €26 million in aid to Turkey to support refugees

The European Union is to send €26 million ($28 million) in humanitarian aid to Turkey to support refugees near the Syrian border impacted by earthquakes last year.

The EU “continues to stand in solidarity with the refugees” in Turkey, EU Crisis Commissioner Janez Lenarčič said in a statement to announce the funding.

On February 6, two large earthquakes and many aftershocks shook south-eastern Turkey and northern Syria, killing more than 50,000 people, according to the commission.

Of the €26 million announced, €4 million is to be provided for education needs. Other funding is to be used to provide healthcare and sanitation services.

The funding comes on top of previous pledges for aid. In the immediate aftermath of the earthquakes, the EU provided Turkey with €400 million in disaster relief.

According to the commission, Turkey hosts the largest refugee population in the world at nearly 4 million people.