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 destruction, killing more than 36,000 people and injuring 

tens of thousands more in Tu ̈rkiye and Syria; 

Whereas the United States Agency for International Development 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 negatively impacted rescue efforts and put earthquake survivors at further risk after thousands of buildings collapsed 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; 
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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 Nations-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 earthquake to call for the lifting of United States sanctions, 

falsely claiming that such sanctions impede the aid response; and 

Whereas the human cost of this disaster transcends mere statistics 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; 
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(3) applauds the heroic work of humanitarian aid 

and rescue workers on the ground to save lives and provide 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 tragedy by the United States Government, other governments, 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, including those by the Syrian Civil Defense, the White 

Helmets; 

(7) condemns efforts by the Assad regime to cynically exploit the disaster to evade international pressure 

and accountability, including by preventing the United 

Nations from providing assistance through multiple border crossings between Tu ̈rkiye and Syria; 

(8) calls on the Biden administration to continue to 

use all diplomatic tools, including through the United 
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Nations Security Council, to open all Tu ̈rkiye-Syria border crossings for United Nations assistance; 

(9) underscores the need for international assistance to reach northwest Syria to assist with disaster relief; 

(10) calls for an increased oversight mechanism to 

ensure that United States-funded assistance is not diverted for the benefit of the Assad regime; 

(11) urges the Biden administration to remain committed 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 northwestern Syria. 

Attest: 

Clerk.