February 17, 2023

*) The United Nations appeals for $1B aid for Türkiye The United Nations has launched an appeal for 1 billion dollars to help victims in Türkiye of last week's devastating earthquakes that killed thousands of people and left millions more in desperate need of aid. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement that the funds would provide humanitarian relief for three months to 5.2 million people. He said the money would "allow aid organizations to rapidly scale up vital support," including in the areas of food security, protection, education, water and shelter. *) Türkiye quakes deadliest natural disaster on alliance territory: NATO chief The NATO chief has said that last week's deadly earthquakes in southeastern Türkiye were "the deadliest natural disaster on alliance territory since the foundation of" the security alliance. In a joint press conference on Thursday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg’s visit is meant to show the alliance’s solidarity with Türkiye after deadly quakes. Cavusoglu said the NATO Council has also decided to send residential containers and tents that are suitable for winter conditions. *) Türkiye tightens noose around building contractors over 'earthquake crimes' Turkish authorities have detained more contractors and others allegedly responsible for poorly constructed buildings that collapsed and caused heavy mass casualties in last week’s earthquakes. Three people were detained in Türkiye’s southeastern Kahramanmaras province, which was the epicentre of two powerful earthquakes. Another five contractors were detained in Istanbul under the coordination of the Kahramanmaras Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. *) Boy among three survivors pulled alive 260 hours after Türkiye quakes Eleven days into the quake, rescuers have pulled a 12-year-old boy and two men out of the rubble. The rescues came more than 260 hours after the earthquakes that have so far left nearly 44,000 people dead in Türkiye and neighbouring Sy