Red Cross Launches Appeal to Help Turkey Earthquake Survivors

[Isis]

26 October 2011

Tens of thousands of people desperately need help to recover after Turkey’s worst earthquake for over a decade has left them homeless.

The British Red Cross has launched an emergency appeal, with funds expected to be used mainly to help provide survivors with shelter, including tents and blankets.

Volunteers and staff from the Turkish Red Crescent – one of the Europe’s best-equipped earthquake response organisations – have been working around the clock for three days to help survivors.
Search and rescue

The 7.2-magnitude quake struck Turkey’s eastern province of Van on Sunday 23 October, killing hundreds, injuring thousands, and destroying hundreds of buildings. The Turkish Red Crescent immediately deployed specially-trained staff and relief items.

The Red Crescent’s efforts are focused on search and rescue – and rescuers have pulled survivors from collapsed buildings.

Red Crescent workers have also established soup kitchens and tent camps in Ercis stadium for those whose homes have been destroyed or who are afraid to stay inside due to the many strong aftershocks.
Life-saving relief

By 24 October, the Red Crescent had deployed 139 staff to the region and many life-saving essentials, including:

    * 12,891 tents
    * 3,812 stoves
    * 25,229 blankets
    * 425 sleeping bags
    * 1,719 kitchen sets
    * 27,824 bottles of water
    * 1,064 family food parcels
    * 100 tons of various food items
    * 21 mobile kitchens, one mobile bakery and two mobile catering vehicles.

Tesco has generously donated £25,000 to support this appeal.

In the unlikely event that we raise more money than can be reasonably and efficiently spent, any surplus funds will be used to help us prepare for and respond to other humanitarian disasters anywhere in the world.



http://www.redcross.org.uk/About-us/News/2011/October/Red-Cross-launches-appeal-to-help-Turkey-earthquake-survivors