Let's talk about the emergency response now, you see there Isobel Coleman, she is the Deputy Administrator of USAID. Isobel, I know this is a very busy time for you and your organization. So thank you for joining us. We understand some AID is on the ground in Turkey and in Syria, tell us about what's already there and about the commitment you're making for what's ahead.
DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR COLEMAN: Yes, thank you. I mean, it really is just an unbelievable situation. We were able to get two of our search and rescue teams on the ground in Turkey yesterday. And we've also launched one of our Disaster Assistance Response Teams, comprised of 200 people, and they brought 170,000 pounds of technical equipment with them to begin moving rubble, and really expediting the search for people. It's very cold, it's winter. And the window is closing to find survivors. But our team from Fairfax County, as you see here, and another from LA County, they're there with 12 dogs on the ground doing everything they can, working 24/7 to try to rescue any remaining survivors.
QUESTION: I know that that help is so appreciated. How else is USAID planning to assist in the disaster relief effort?
DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR COLEMAN: Well, actually, we have literally just announced that we are committing $85 million to this emergency that is just right out of the gate here – $85 million from USAID. But other parts of our government are also responding. We have our DOD colleagues who are on the ground. Because there's so many destroyed roads, it's just impossible to move around, they're using Blackhawk and Chinook helicopters to move some of these materials you're seeing to different places in the country. And we've also got our partners on the ground. I mean, Syria is a real disaster area to north northwest Syria in particular, we have partners on the ground who we've been working with since the crisis started in Syria 12 years ago, and the International Organization for Migration actually managed to get six trucks in there today through the one open crossing from Turkey into Syria – the Bab al-Hawa crossing – and we work with the IOM and and provide them with funding to try to reach these people in need. As I mentioned, it's cold, it's winter, people need shelter, they need food, they need water hygiene – the $85 million will go to providing all of these emergency response over the weeks and coming months. As we can see the situation is massive, and it will need support like this from all over the world.
QUESTION: And it's remarkable when we consider that how big this disaster is you're joining us from Kyiv in Ukraine, where a war is ongoing. So your organization is really having to do a lot of work as it's spread out. Talk to us more about this newly announced $85 million, both for Turkey and Syria, as you mentioned, it's a much more difficult situation in northwest Syria because of the ongoing civil war there. How will these funds then be allocated specifically?
DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR COLEMAN: Well, as I said, this is our first commitment by USAID. But it is a broader response from the whole U.S. government, with our DOD colleagues, as I mentioned, providing critical airlift. And I am sure that there will be additional support coming as the scale of this becomes clearer over time. But you're right, I mean, there are just emergencies and crises going on around the world. Yesterday, I visited with the emergency responders here in Ukraine in Kyiv, that we, USAID, have also been supporting those first responders here and learned that they had sent a canine-equipped search and rescue team also to Ukraine. So you see even in the midst of of their struggles and challenges here they're able to reach out and provide this critically needed service to search for survivors as this window narrows in Ukraine, which I found to be really heartwarming to see the Ukrainians helping helping the Turks.
QUESTION: It is truly elicits sympathy on so many levels. 20,000 dead, the scale is It's hard to actually comprehend and as you say, winter is here and the window to find survivors is closing. So it's a major announcement that USAID is providing $85 million and we appreciate Isobel Coleman, you coming on the air with us to share that.
DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR COLEMAN: Thanks for having me. Thank you.
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