Bill Clinton: “The recent earthquake in Turkey is one of the worst natural disasters of the century. Tens of thousands of people are…”

“The recent earthquake in Turkey is one of the worst natural disasters of the century. Tens of thousands of people are either confirmed dead or still missing. On behalf of all Americans, Hillary and I offer our deepest condolences to the loved ones of those who have lost their lives. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this tragedy. Turkey is our longtime ally. The Turkish people are our friends. Today they urgently need assistance. Many are severely injured. Hundreds of thousands are camping outdoors. There is a serious risk of disease spreading. We must help the victims rebuild their lives. Working with Turkey's Government and others, American military and civilian personnel, including teams from Fairfax County, Virginia, and Dade County, Florida, helped with the rescue efforts. Now we're helping provide shelter, water, sanitation, and medical services. I'm grateful to all those participating. Here at home, Americans are helping, too, including religious leaders of many faiths, who've united to call for prayer and humanitarian action. I encourage my fellow citizens to give generously to charitable organizations supporting the relief efforts. For information, you can call our toll-free number in the U.S., that's 1- 800-USAID-RELIEF--1-800-USAID-RELIEF--or look on the Internet at www.whitehouse.gov.”