Washington, DC—Today, Representative Lois Frankel (FL-22) released the following statement after the House passed a bipartisan resolution mourning the loss of life from the devastating earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria and honoring the responders assisting in the region. The resolution, which Rep. Frankel co-led, underscores the need for international assistance, while condemning the Assad regime’s exploitation of the disaster to evade international accountability. The regime’s actions have prevented the United Nations from providing assistance through all border crossings between Türkiye and Syria.

“My thoughts are with the people in Türkiye and Syria whose lives have been shattered by the recent earthquakes in that region,” said Rep. Frankel. “With this bipartisan resolution, Congress honors the victims and survivors of this tragedy and thanks the first responders who are working tirelessly to save lives and rebuild communities, despite ongoing interference from the Assad regime in Syria. The world must continue to work together to get assistance to those who need it, and ensure cynical actors such as the Assad regime do not exploit this tragedy for their own benefit.”

Last week, President Biden authorized $100 million in Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Funds (ERMA) and humanitarian assistance through the State Department and USAID, in addition to the $85 million in humanitarian assistance announced within days of the disaster. This brings the total U.S. humanitarian assistance to $185 million to date. Hundreds of responders—including American humanitarian workers—are on the ground providing survivors with life-saving assistance.

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