Save the Children, more funds needed for Turkey-Syria earthquake

(ANSA) - ROME, MARCH 18 - As the European Union and Sweden prepare to host the donors' conference in Brussels next Monday to raise funds for the response to the earthquake in Turkey and Syria, Save the Children is asking world leaders for a greater commitment to address the immediate humanitarian needs of children and protect their future.

The NGO itself writes it in a note.

    "At present, funding for the response is largely insufficient - says the organization - to meet the most pressing needs. The immediate appeal of the United Nations to meet the immediate humanitarian needs of people after the catastrophe in both countries has been set at 1.4 billions of dollars, but only 28.7% is financed (13.8% for Turkey and 66.4% for Syria), thus leaving a gap of almost a billion dollars needed to meet the needs of all those affected by the earthquake and help the "Children recover. This is a critical window of time to help children recover, especially the lack of funds for child protection and education is extremely worrying."

    The earthquakes - recalls Save The Children - caused the death of over 54,000 people in both countries, but the crisis is not over.

With infrastructure decimated, services overburdened and millions of children and families displaced from their homes, urgent action is needed to protect children from the severe aftermath of earthquakes.

(HANDLE).