BERLIN, February 12 (dpa/EP) –
The German Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Interior have confirmed this Saturday that those affected by the earthquake in Turkey will have the opportunity to temporarily stay with their relatives residing in Germany.
“As the German government, we want to help ensure that families in Germany can temporarily take in relatives affected by the earthquake if they no longer have a roof over their heads or need medical treatment,” German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said in a statement. Twitter.
Thus, Berlin will be willing to provide aid to those affected by the earthquake that shook Turkey and Syria a week ago and which has left at least 28,000 dead, according to the latest balances.
Tens of thousands of people have Turkish roots in Germany, with Turks being the country’s largest immigrant group, due to the guest worker policy adopted by the German government in the 1950s.
The two ministries have created a working group that will begin work this weekend. “The goal is for the visa process for these cases to be as less bureaucratic as possible,” stressed the minister.
“This is about helping in an emergency. We want to make it possible for Turkish or Syrian families in Germany to bring close relatives from the disaster region to join them without red tape,” said the German Interior Minister. , Nancy Faeser, according to the German agency DPA.
This procedure would be carried out through ordinary visas, which will be issued more quickly and will be valid for three months.
“In the midst of the pain and dismay over the thousands of deaths after the earthquake, a ray of hope for me is the enormous commitment of hundreds of thousands of people in our country who not only show solidarity, but also pitch in and find ways to help”, declared Baerbock, while also expressing solidarity with residents of Germany with relatives in Turkey.
The expedited and priority visas are intended to benefit people who have been particularly affected individually by the catastrophe, who may be in danger of becoming homeless or who have suffered injuries that require treatment, according to what the aforementioned agency has learned. .
In this way, the plan is designed for earthquake victims who wish to seek refuge in Germany and stay with first or second degree relatives who are German citizens or have a permanent residence permit.
