GENEVA — The UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) thanked donors who contributed $268 million in response to the $1 billion humanitarian funding appeal for Turkey following the recent earthquakes.

OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke confirmed that the appeal was funded by 27 percent and that the largest donors were Saudi Arabia, the United States, Kuwait, the European Commission, and the UN Central Emergency Response Fund, urging countries to provide support and contribute to financing the appeal.

He explained that the aid comes in support of the response led by the Turkish government. Nine million people were directly affected by the earthquakes that occurred two months ago, while 3 million people were displaced.

Laerke said, “United Nations humanitarian agencies have reached more than 4.1 million people with non-food aid, and 3 million people with emergency food assistance, while more than 700,000 people have received support to improve their living quarters, including tents, relief housing units, and tents repair tools.”

He added that 1.6 million people received water and sanitation assistance and hygiene, and about 1 million liters of drinking water were delivered.

The UN official pointed out that the Turkish Ministry of Health has been supported with 4.6 million vaccine doses, and 16 mobile health clinics, in addition to medicines and medical supplies for reproductive health and treatment of trauma and injuries. — SPA