The United Nations launched a US$1 billion appeal Thursday to help 5.2 million survivors of the most devastating earthquake in Turkey's modern history, two days after starting a US$397 million appeal to help nearly 5 million Syrians across the border in the rebel-held northwest.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric was peppered with questions about why the appeal for Turkey is targeted at only 5.2 million people when according to the UN and the government more than 15 million people were affected. He also was asked why the appeal for Turkey is 2 1/2 times larger than the one for Syria to help almost the same number of people.
"So there's already a humanitarian pot of money that exists for Syria, which did not exist for Turkey," he said. He said that "Turkey is home to the largest number of refugees in the world and has shown enormous generosity to its Syrian neighbors for years," so it is time for the world to support the Turkish people.
"We must stand with them in their darkest hour and ensure they receive the support they need," Griffiths said.
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