These words belong to Grzegorz Borowiec, the leader of the 76-person Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Poland team, which operated for 12 days in Besni in the Adıyaman province after the February 2023 earthquakes.  He shared vividly memories of the rescue operation during the launch event of the photo album ‘Stronger Together: A Visual Chronicle’:

“One moment that stands out to me is when we rescued the last victim. This effort was a collaborative operation with the Bulgarian team and the Turkish army. The drilling through the rubble took about thirty hours. I had colleagues working within the confines of a collapsed building, directly in the debris, risking their lives for someone else. Observing such selflessness was the most profound demonstration of human values I have ever witnessed. And successfully, we were able to retrieve that individual, just as we did with the other 11 people.”

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Grzegorz Borowiec, the leader of USAR Poland team

Stronger Together: A Visual Chronicle

The rescue effort after the February 2023 earthquakes brought up the best examples of humanity, empathy and solidarity. Brave photographers documented this collective action in the face of adversity. In February 2024, the EU Delegation to Türkiye published a photo album ‘Stronger Together: A Visual Chronicle’.  

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Maciej Lang, Ambassador of Poland

The Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Ankara hosted the presentation of the photo album. In his opening speech, Maciej Lang, Ambassador of Poland said that “The book is a testament to the unwavering support and solidarity of the EU and its member states after the devastating earthquakes. The images captured within these pages not only depict the harrowing aftermath of the earthquake but also illustrate a visual representation of hope, resilience, and the power of international cooperation.”

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Ambassador Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut, the Head of the European Union Delegation to Türkiye

Book paying tribute to rescue teams

Stating that the book pays a fitting tribute to the rescue teams, the Head of the European Union Delegation to Türkiye, Ambassador Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut, said: “I would like to express my condolences to Türkiye and the Turkish people. Seeing in this photo book the extent of aid the EU and its member states have provided during one of the darkest moments in Turkish history fills me with immense pride. Their efforts in helping with the rescue operations and overcoming this catastrophe will not be forgotten.”

After screening of a video that captured the remarkable efforts of the EU teams, Paul Huynen, the Ambassador of Belgium, stepped on stage to deliver his speech on behalf of the Presidency of the Council of the EU. He reflected:

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Paul Huynen, Ambassador of Belgium

“Recently, Ambassador Meyer-Landrut and I visited the earthquake-affected areas. Despite the tireless efforts of everyone involved during the recovery effort of the last 12 months, we witnessed that the humanitarian needs are still significant, and the road to recovery is still long. This is one of the reasons why this publication is so important. Public initiatives like this photo book are meaningful because they keep the focus on the earthquake and its aftermath. They stress that continuous support and sustained solidarity are needed to support the earthquake victims.”  

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Ambassador Mehmet Kemal Bozay, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye & Director for EU Affairs

A testament to the reliable support provided to Türkiye

Mehmet Kemal Bozay, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye, said: 

“The images captured in this book highlight the extraordinary spirit of solidarity and serve as a testament to the reliable support extended by the EU and its member states to Türkiye during this period of unprecedented hardship. We extend our sincere gratitude for the support provided in the aftermath of the earthquakes that struck Türkiye last year. The EU's immediate activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and deployment of rescue teams from EU countries are highly appreciated. Together, Türkiye and the EU can overcome future challenges, laying the foundations for a brighter future for generations to come.”

Christophe Gadrey, Technical Assistant of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) reflected on those challenging days: 

“It was the largest civil protection operation in the history of ECHO. The first ECHO team arrived in the earthquake zone during the first 24 hours and started to immediately provide support to the Turkish and international search and rescue teams. How could ECHO have mobilised its first team so quickly? Humanity and professionalism guided us. We have shown that even during the most challenging times, we can maintain the spirit of solidarity.”

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A video highlighted the remarkable efforts of EU search and rescue teams

EU's €400 million Solidarity Fund for Türkiye

Since the very first day, the EU and its member states have steadfastly supported Türkiye. Immediately after the earthquakes, approximately 3 million aid-related materials, including shelter equipment, reached the area affected by the earthquake. Tents, beds, and relief housing units equipped with beds were mobilised via the reserves of the rescEU, an extra layer of protection integrated into the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. As part of the mechanism, 21 EU Member State, as well as Albania, Montenegro, Norway, and Serbia, sent 32 search and rescue teams to Türkiye with their available resources, six teams of medical personnel, and five field hospitals, and treated more than 15,000 people in Türkiye. A number of other EU member states provided additional assistance bilaterally. 

On March 2023, the European Commission organised a Donors’ Conference in Brussels ‘Together  for the People in Türkiye and Syria.’ At the conference, €6 billion were pledged for the earthquake victims in Türkiye. Among other support, €400 million from the EU Solidarity Fund was mobilised to aid Türkiye. The EU continues to support Türkiye in its reconstruction efforts.

Click for the photo book ‘Stronger Together: A Visual Chronicle’ and the video about EU search and rescue and assistance teams that helped Türkiye.

Stories about EU-Türkiye cooperation