Germany grants visas to Turkey earthquake survivors

BERLIN (AP) — The German government wants to ease visa restrictions for earthquake survivors in Turkey and Syria who have relatives in Germany and are injured or at risk of homelessness.

“It’s about helping those in need. We want to allow Turkish or Syrian families in Germany to bring their loved ones from the disaster areas,” German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser tweeted on Sunday.

“Here they will be able to get accommodation and medical care,” Faeser added. “With regular visas, issued quickly and valid for three months.”

However, not all visa requirements are waived. Applicants must have a valid passport, which is likely to be a stumbling block for those fleeing collapsed buildings.

Millions of people in Germany have Turkish roots because more than 60 years ago West Germany recruited “guest workers” from Turkey and other countries to help with economic development.

More recently, hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees have come to Germany seeking refuge due to the civil war in their country.

Turkish and Syrian immigrants in Germany have asked for humanitarian aid and sent donations. In recent days, the clamor has grown for the German government to allow them to bring their relatives to the areas devastated by the earthquake.

The German government has indicated it will ease restrictions on obtaining visas – an often rigid and bureaucratic process. He added that the Foreign Ministry had already increased its staff in Turkey and strengthened the resources of visa issuing centers there.

Earthquake victims who wish to come to Germany and apply for a three-month visa will need to prove that they have close relatives who are citizens or permanent residents of Germany, the dpa news agency reported.

The host family must provide a written promise that they will pay for the refugee’s expenses and eventual departure.