[Central News Agency] The European Union convened more than 60 countries and international organizations across the ocean today to hold a donation meeting for the continuous relief and reconstruction after the earthquake in Turkey and Syria on February 6. The participating countries and international organizations pledged a total of 7 billion euros in donations .

The international donor conference was co-chaired by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, who holds the EU presidency.

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In addition to EU member states, countries including Japan, South Korea, Kazakhstan, and international institutions such as the World Bank also sent representatives to participate physically or remotely. A total of more than 60 donors announced the projects and amounts of assistance provided at the meeting. .

Van der Leyen said in her closing speech: "Today is a very good day to show international solidarity." She said that the EU team accounted for half of the total aid of 7 billion euros (approximately NT$229 billion).

Turkey will receive 6.05 billion euros in donations and loans for humanitarian assistance such as reconstruction and continued resettlement of victims, while Syria will receive 950 million euros, mainly for humanitarian assistance such as medical treatment and resettlement.

According to press releases from the European Commission, Turkey needs reconstruction funds estimated at more than US$100 billion (approximately NT$3 trillion).

The 7.8-magnitude earthquake on February 6 and subsequent powerful aftershocks caused more than 50,000 deaths in Turkey and Syria.

The European Union has dispatched 1,750 search and rescue personnel and 111 search and rescue dogs under the "Civil Protection Mechanism" (Civil Protection Mechanism), the largest scale since the establishment of the mechanism.

(Editor: Chen Yanjun) 1120321