THE WHITE HOUSE

                     Office of the Press Secretary
                           (Auburn, New York)
________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                                  September 2, 1999

                               FACT SHEET

                  U.S. Humanitarian Relief Efforts for
                       Turkey Earthquake Victims

Since a devastating earthquake struck Turkey August 17, President Clinton has mobilized public and private resources in a broad-ranging effort to help those affected by this disaster. The earthquake caused more than 14,500 deaths and 24,000 injuries, with thousands more still missing. The United States has undertaken the following relief operations:

• The President's Special Coordinator for International Disaster Assistance, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator J. Brady Anderson, toured the disaster zone on August 31 to survey relief efforts and met with Turkish officials. The U.S. has provided almost $11.5 million in goods and services to support Turkish relief efforts (excluding Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group operations).
• USAID immediately deployed two search and rescue teams to help recover earthquake survivors. The U.S. teams from Fairfax County, Virginia and Dade County, Florida traveled to the region on U.S. military aircraft and worked with other local and international teams to retrieve survivors from the rubble. Each U.S. team included 70 rescue experts, search dogs and sensory and earth-moving equipment. The last U.S. rescue team departed Turkey on August 28.
• A 15-member USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) is in Turkey working closely with local authorities and the U.S. military to conduct shelter, health, water and sanitation assessments; help coordinate U.S. military transportation and distribution of relief supplies; advise local groups on the proper use of plastic sheeting for shelter; and recommend further U.S. assistance needed.
• The Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), including the USS Kearsarge, USS Gunston and USS Ponce, has brought 2200 Marines, 22 helicopters and substantial medical treatment capacity to the region. ARG members are delivering relief supplies and addressing shelter and medical needs. The Marines are constructing tent camps to house the displaced, in areas designated by Turkish authorities.
• A 20-member U.S. Navy medical team specializing in acute trauma care provided medical assistance in Izmit during the initial phase of the disaster response. They have since relocated to the Kearsarge to supplement its medical capacity.
• The U.S. military has donated nearly 5,500 tents of various sizes to provide shelter for approximately 95,000 people. The military will also deliver some 200 portable latrines, four generators and water bladders, and has donated surgical gloves, body bags, masks and medical supplies.
• USAID-chartered planes have delivered 30,000 blankets, 16,400 five-gallon water containers, 10,000 hygiene kits, 700 rolls of plastic sheeting, medicine for 10,000 people, and three water purification units. The units are installed in the disaster zone and are each capable of meeting the daily clean water requirements of 27,000 people. USAID also locally purchased 7000 bars and 3000 bottles of soap for distribution to disaster victims.
• The President encourages Americans to help the Turkish people by providing support to relief agencies that are active in the region. Cash donations will enable these organizations to purchase exactly what is needed, locally and regionally, thus speeding up the delivery of assistance. For more information on organizations active in Turkey, call 1-800-USAID-RELIEF or access the USAID web site at www.info.usaid.gov.

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