Turkish Earthquake Motion

This House Recognises:

1.There was a 7.8 magnitude earthquake near the Turkish City of Gaziantep, next to the Syrian border.

1. There have been a number of aftershocks including another 7.5 magnitude earthquake in the region

2. The death toll has surpassed over a 1000 in Turkey and 300 in Syria with hundreds of people still trapped in rubble and will continue to climb significantly [at time of writing]

3. Many of the areas affected in northern Syria are not under government control and will severely struggle in access to rescue authorities and the necessary medical aid

This House Urges:

1.The government to increase its provision of aid to both Turkey and Syria in response to the earthquake

1. The government to work with the UN and related NGOs to provide authorities and aid to communities in northern Syria who will not have access

2. The government to support rescue organisations who will be going to and are operating in that region

This motion is submitted by Sir u/Chi0121 Shadow Secretary of State for Defence, on behalf of the Official Opposition

Opening Speech:

Deputy Speaker,

This doesn’t need a long winding opening speech. There is a huge ongoing humanitarian crisis on the Turkey/Syrian border and our help and aid is and will be needed. I have made it clear in the past the challenges faced by communities in northern Syria and those challenges have just extrapolated significantly.

We have the methods and the means to provide life saving aid and expertise across the region and it is paramount that the government lends this.

I don’t believe this needs a long opening speech or a protracted debate - the government I hope will most likely already be working on a statement to bring to the House to brief us on the measures that will be taken.

This reading will end on the 10th at 10PM