Responding to the earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria on February 6, 2023.

H. Res. 132 In the House of Representatives, U. S., February 27, 2023. Whereas, on February 6, 2023, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck central-southern Tu¨rkiye, followed by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake later the same day, followed by over a thousand aftershocks in Tu¨rkiye and northwest Syria; Whereas the earthquakes have caused massive death and de- struction, killing more than 36,000 people and injuring tens of thousands more in Tu¨rkiye and Syria; Whereas the United States Agency for International Develop- ment and other agencies mobilized Federal agencies and partners to provide life-saving assistance to the people of Tu¨rkiye and Syria; Whereas dangerous freezing winter weather conditions nega- tively impacted rescue efforts and put earthquake sur- vivors at further risk after thousands of buildings col- lapsed into rubble; Whereas the Republic of Tu¨rkiye is a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ally of the United States; Whereas prior to the devastating earthquakes, millions of people in Syria were relying on humanitarian assistance, and Tu¨rkiye was hosting more than 3,500,000 Syrian refugees; 2 •HRES 132 EH Whereas through 12 years of war in Syria, the Assad regime has impeded the delivery of humanitarian assistance to civilians, including those in areas now impacted by the February 6, 2023, earthquakes; Whereas the Russian Federation and People’s Republic of China have used their veto power at the United Nations Security Council to restrict the number of United Na- tions-authorized border crossings between Tu¨rkiye and Syria from four to just one—Bab al-Hawa; Whereas although areas outside of the Assad regime’s control have been the worst affected by the earthquake, Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad stated that any aid to victims must go through the Syrian Government in Damascus; Whereas Department of State Spokesman Ned Price has stated it would be ‘‘ironic, if not even counterproductive, for us to reach out to a government that has brutalized its people over the course of a dozen years now’’; Whereas the Assad regime has shamefully used the earth- quake to call for the lifting of United States sanctions, falsely claiming that such sanctions impede the aid re- sponse; and Whereas the human cost of this disaster transcends mere sta- tistics and has resulted in deeply personal tragedies for countless families: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives— (1) mourns the horrific loss of life in Tu¨rkiye and Syria caused by the earthquakes in Tu¨rkiye on February 6, 2023; (2) expresses its deep condolences to the families of the many earthquake victims; 3 •HRES 132 EH (3) applauds the heroic work of humanitarian aid and rescue workers on the ground to save lives and pro- vide care for victims, including United States Agency for International Development Urban Search and Rescue teams, the Armed Forces of the United States, including members of such Armed Forces stationed at the Incirlik Air Force base in Tu¨rkiye, and the Syrian Civil Defense, otherwise known as the White Helmets; (4) applauds the response to the earthquake trag- edy by the United States Government, other govern- ments, and nongovernmental organizations; (5) applauds the civilians in Tu¨rkiye and Syria who have selflessly volunteered to assist with response to the devastating aftermath; (6) urges the international community to support heroic disaster response efforts in Tu¨rkiye and Syria, in- cluding those by the Syrian Civil Defense, the White Helmets; (7) condemns efforts by the Assad regime to cyni- cally exploit the disaster to evade international pressure and accountability, including by preventing the United Nations from providing assistance through multiple bor- der crossings between Tu¨rkiye and Syria; (8) calls on the Biden administration to continue to use all diplomatic tools, including through the United 4 •HRES 132 EH Nations Security Council, to open all Tu¨rkiye-Syria bor- der crossings for United Nations assistance; (9) underscores the need for international assist- ance to reach northwest Syria to assist with disaster re- lief; (10) calls for an increased oversight mechanism to ensure that United States-funded assistance is not di- verted for the benefit of the Assad regime; (11) urges the Biden administration to remain com- mitted to the protection of the Syrian people including by implementing the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019; and (12) welcomes the Republic of Tu¨rkiye’s continuing support to Syrian refugees in Tu¨rkiye and in north- western Syria. Attest: Clerk.