Tag: earthquake in Van

Armenia To Send Relief Aid To Turkey

Turkey — Earthquake survivors stand in front of a damaged building in Ercis, 26Oct2011

27.10.2011

Armenia said on Thursday that it will send a planeload of humanitarian aid to survivors of a powerful earthquake in southeastern Turkey that killed more than 500 people and left thousands of others homeless.

The Armenian Ministry of Emergency Situations announced that a transport plane hired by it will deliver 40 tons of tents, sleeping bags, blankets and other aid to the western Turkish city of Izmir on Friday.

A ministry statement said that the Turkish government requested such assistance through the Turkish Red Crescent Society and NATO’s Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Center.

The Armenian government offered to send relief aid and rescuers immediately after the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck the area around the Turkish city of Van on Sunday. President Serzh Sarkisian reiterated the offer in a phone call with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul the following day.

With the epicenter of the quake located only 150 kilometers south of the Turkish-Armenian border, strong and unusually long tremors were also felt in much of Armenia. But they caused no devastation.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday thanked foreign nations offering help, including Armenia and Israel, but said Turkey can cope with the disaster by itself.

Erdogan’s government has since faced growing accusations of neglect or

ineptitude from scores of earthquake survivors whose homes were destroyed or seriously damaged by the quake.

Reports from the disaster zone spoke on Thursday of an acute shortage of tents badly needed by thousands of people sleeping in the open in freezing temperatures.

Answering Turkey’s call for help to supply tents, prefabricated housing and containers, foreign aid began pouring in with the first planeloads landing from France, Ukraine and Israel, Reuters news agency reported. Both Israel and Armenia have poor relations with Turkey.

via Armenia To Send Relief Aid To Turkey.

October 28, 2011
Pope prays for victims of Turkey earthquake

Vatican City, Oct 27, 2011 / 05:54 am (CNA).- Pope Benedict XVI has asked for prayers and appealed for aid for the victims of Sunday’s earthquake in Turkey.

“At this time, our thoughts turn to the people of Turkey hard hit by the earthquake, which has caused heavy loss of life, many missing and extensive damage,” the Pope said at his Oct. 26 general audience in Vatican City’s Paul VI Hall.

“I invite you to join me in prayer for those who have lost their lives and to be spiritually close to the many people who have been sorely tried. May the Almighty support all those engaged in rescue work,” he prayed.

The 7.2-magnitude quake killed at least 461 people and injured 1,350 in the Van region, the Associated Press reports. The disaster flattened many buildings and left thousands of people homeless or afraid to return to damaged houses.

At least 20,000 tents have been sent to the quake zone, where the temperature drops below zero at night.

Caritas Turkey reported that the earthquake was “very severe” and the region is not easily accessible. The Catholic organization has already sent 1,200 sleeping bags. It plans to send blankets, coats, plastic sheeting and other items.

The Turkish government originally said Turkey could handle the disaster alone, but it has now asked 30 countries, including Israel, for emergency supplies like prefabricated housing, tents and containers.

via Pope prays for victims of Turkey earthquake :: Catholic News Agency (CNA).

October 28, 2011
First shipment of aid from Israel heading to Turkey

First shipment of aid from Israel heading to Turkey

Five portable structures, 2,000 fleece coats, 2,000 fleece blankets and 100 inflatable mattresses will be delivered to quake-ravaged region. Another aircraft carrying aid expected to depart Friday morning

Boaz Filer

Published: 10.26.11, 20:19 / Israel News

Five portable structures, 2,000 fleece coats, 2,000 fleece blankets and 100 inflatable mattresses: All of the above will reach Turkey late Wednesday in the first shipment of aid from Israel in the aftermath of the earthquake that has claimed the lives of 471 people.

“We are a nation that views humanitarian aid as a fundamental value,” a Defense Ministry spokesman explained the decision to help Turkey in what may help improve the strained relations between the two countries.

Related stories:

Turkey asks Israel for aid

Israeli volunteers prepare to aid Turkey

Diplomats: Turkey disaster won’t boost relations

Preparing to load portable structure on cargo jet (Photo: Ohad Zwiegenberg)

Israel was the first country to offer assistance but was rejected by Ankara. The Turkish government eventually decided to accept aid after all. An El-Al 747 jumbo aircraft will deliver the shipment, which will be transferred to the quake-ravaged area by trucks.

Defense Ministry Spokesperson to the foreign press Josh Hantman told Ynet, “This jumbo is the largest plane we could get at such a short notice. The portable structures include electrical infrastructure and we are also sending blankets, mattresses, coats and other equipment.”

He said that during interviews with the foreign press, he was asked, ‘What is the point in assisting Turkey? After all, the assistance will not be rewarded diplomatically.’

Loading cargo at airport (Photo: Ohad Zwiegenberg)

According to Hantman, his response was, “This goes beyond politics because there are people there who need help. If we are a nation that was so excited by the return home of one soldier last week, it shows that we are a nation that cherishes life and that is why we view humanitarian aid as a fundamental value.”

Head of the public relations department at the Defense Ministry Shlomi Am-Shalom elaborated on the first phase of the assistance operation: “The aircraft is carrying temporary housing structures for people to live in. Since it is very cold in the area of the disaster, we also included blankets and coats.”

According to Am-Shalom, “A second jet will head to Turkey early Friday morning. We also plan on shipping several hundred containers via sea.”

Earlier, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman told Army Radio, “We said that we would be prepared to provide all possible aid, as requested and desired, and there is no mixing political-diplomatic relations and natural disasters. We are separating the two things absolutely.”

Looking for relatives (Photo: EPA)

Israeli relief after a 1999 Turkish earthquake helped seal an alliance that has since collapsed over Israel’s Palestinian policies and the killing last year of nine Turks aboard an activist ship that tried to breach the Gaza blockade.

Despite the crisis, Turkey’s Islamist-rooted government sent firefighters to help Israel contain a deadly blaze in its northern Carmel forest in December.

“We don’t mix humanitarian issues with political issues,” a Turkish Foreign Ministry official told Reuters.

“We gave the same answer to every country that has offered help. We said we are making an assessment and we will turn to you if there is need for help. We said this to every country, including Israel.”

Reuters contributed to the report.

via First shipment of aid from Israel heading to Turkey – Israel News, Ynetnews.

October 27, 2011
Turkey Post Earthquake: Is Travel Safe? Will Tourism Be Disrupted?

Turkey Post Earthquake: Is Travel Safe? Will Tourism Be Disrupted?

Middle East, Natural Disasters, Safety & Security, Travel News — on October 26, 2011 2:01 pm

Turkey Post Earthquake: Is Travel Safe? Will Tourism Be Disrupted?

Sunday’s 7.2 magnitude quake in Eastern Turkey has already killed hundreds and the search for survivors continues.

The 7.2 quake is the largest to hit Turkey since 1999’s 7.6 killer. In fact, many are blaming Turkey’s poor planning in Ercis and Van (both affected by Sunday’s disaster) for the collapse of over 80 buildings.

“When we look at the wreckage, we see how the material used is of bad quality,” Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated. ”We see that people pay the price for concrete that virtually turned to sand, or for weakened concrete blocks on the ground floors. Municipalities, constructors and supervisors should now see that their negligence amounts to murder.”

And with over 100 aftershocks (including one with a magnitude of 6.0) recorded by U.S. scientists, the death toll continues to rise. Naturally the question presents itself: How will Turkey’s earthquake affect tourism?

With Turkey estimated to earn $21 billion in tourism this year, many tourism professionals believe Sunday’s earthquake won’t detract from the bustling charm of Turkey. Of the areas affected, the region that felt the brunt of the impact is not a popular destination. Instead, Turkish tourism centers around Istanbul or the Mediterranean beach towns.

With the epicenter 1,550 miles away from the populated city of Istanbul (that’s a 28-hour drive) tourists and business travelers alike prefer the major city. Istanbul’s major attractions include: the Grand Bazaar (a perfect spot for serious shoppers to peruse the over 5,500 vendors), the sacred building Haghia Sophia (once an Ottoman mosque and now a Turkish museum), the walls of Constantinople (the largest Byzantine structure that survives in modern Istanbul), and the Princes’ Islands (home to many non-Muslim elite).

If you are looking to donate to disaster relief efforts, consider the Turkish Red Crescent’s disaster fund, the largest humanitarian organization in Turkey.

For more information, check out:

Our Travel Spotlight, “Off The Brochure: Istanbul, Turkey “

our Natural Disasters Section

our Voluntourism Resources and Recommendations

Related links: Fox News, CNN, Los Angeles Times, Yahoo News, IBT

By Tatiana Rodriguez for PeterGreenberg.com

Feature Image Credit: BigStock

via Peter Greenberg Worldwide – Turkey Post Earthquake: Is Travel Safe? Will Tourism Be Disrupted?.

October 27, 2011
Turkey earthquake: Red Cross says survivors need shelter

Turkey earthquake: Red Cross says survivors need shelter

Survivors at the Red Crescent camp in Ercis The Red Crescent has set up camps to house homeless survivors

Thousands of survivors left homeless by the earthquake that hit eastern Turkey are in desperate need of shelter, a UK disaster response expert has warned.

Some 2,000 buildings collapsed after Sunday’s 7.2-magnitude tremor, which killed at least 460 people.

More are afraid to go home and stuck outside in freezing temperatures, said Katy Attfield of the British Red Cross.

The charity is supporting the Turkish Red Crescent, after Turkey’s government said it would accept foreign aid.

“The area affected is mountainous, it’s freezing, and making sure survivors have protection against the elements is vital for keeping them safe,” said Ms Attfield, who is head of disaster management.

Almost 500 aftershocks have led to fears more buildings will collapse, leaving many people scared to stay inside.

Shipments looted

The Red Crescent is distributing tents, stoves, sleeping bags, food and water and has set up camps in a stadium in Ercis – one of the cities worst affected by the quake which struck the province of Van.

However, it has reported having 17 trucks looted as some survivors fought over shipments of aid.

Cornish charity ShelterBox also has a team in Turkey, working with the Red Crescent to deliver emergency tents and survival equipment.

Turkish ministers had initially insisted the country could cope with impact of the earthquake but ministers have now requested prefabricated housing and containers from other countries, as well as help with reconstruction.

Meanwhile, health officials are warning people to drink bottled water after detecting an increase in the number of diarrhoea cases.

via BBC News – Turkey earthquake: Red Cross says survivors need shelter.

October 27, 2011
How you can support eartquake victims in Turkey
Damaging earthquake in Van – Ercis, Turkey – 471 dead, 1650 injured, thousands lost, thousands homeless in cold winter..

For those of you who would like to support the earthquake victims in van, in terms of material needs, the following goods are deemed to be necessary at Van besides those which are already delivered or on the way:
- Clean, thick winter clothing for babies, children and adults (raincoats, thermal underwear, sweaters, pants, coats, cardigans, thick socks, hats, gloves, scarves, shoes)
- Sleeping bags, blankets
- Dry food (bread, crackers, dried fruit and nuts), high calorie foods like chocolates etc.
- Diapers, sanitary pads
- Toys for children and babies, to support them morally
- And you may attach a warm note in your package for emotional support.
If you live in Germany, according to the Turkish Consulate, you can bring your package to the Öger Türk Offices at airports in Germany, until Saturday 29.10.2011. Until November 2nd, they will be centrally consolidated in Düsseldorf and on Tuesday November 2nd will be delivered to Van via Öger Türk flights.
October 27, 2011