Federal Member for Calwell Maria Vamvakinou today welcomed the Government’s decision to provide $500,000 in assistance to Turkey following the recent earthquake. Ms Vamvakinou said after an appeal from the Turkish Government and urgent discussions with the Australian Red Cross, AusAID had committed to contributing $500,000 to the IFRC's Preliminary Emergency Appeal for the Van Earthquake. “This earthquake has already killed 600 people and made over 14,000 buildings unfit for habitation, “Ms Vamvakinou said. 
“This is a terrible tragedy and while I am proud the Australian Government is able to offer assistance, my heartfelt sympathy goes out to everyone who has friends or relatives affected by the disaster.”The Australian funding assistance will enable the Turkish Red Crescent Society (TRCS) to support 50,000 beneficiaries over the next nine months.The effort will have 3 key activities:

• To provide urgent relief items such as sleeping bags and blankets to people staying in temporary shelter; to provide emergency and transitional shelter (tents, etc); and to establish and implement logistics supply chains.