More than two months after the quake, recovery efforts in both Turkey and Syria are far from over. About 240,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed, and 2.7 million people were left homeless. In Syria, much of the country was already devastated before the quake. A civil war has been raging there since 2011.
Some members of the USAID team are still overseas to aid in the rebuilding process. They’ve worked to provide temporary shelter in weatherproof tents and warehouses. They’re also helping to distribute the food, medicine, and other supplies that have been donated from around the world.
Sarah Charles, a leader on the USAID response team in Turkey, says it was inspiring to see the Turkish people come together during the crisis.
“You saw a huge outpouring of people helping their neighbors,” she explains.
Part of USAID’s mission is to help other countries become as prepared as the U.S. is for natural disasters. And if there is another emergency, Charles is confident that her team will be ready.
“People like Robin Clement are there to respond at a moment’s notice,” she says.