Close-up action medeor

At the airport in Istanbul, people are crying in each other's arms. I have landed here to fly on to Adana - in the north of Turkey, which was hit particularly hard by the earthquake. Like me, many people here want to go to the region to help, partly because they have family there.

A region in a state of disaster

After landing in Adana, I continue on to Kilis. The roads there are completely jammed, hundreds of trucks drive into the region and ambulances with flashing blue lights keep coming towards us. In Kilis, I meet our partner organization “International Blue Crescent” (IBC). The organization's aid workers have been in action since the early hours of the morning after the first quake - with the support of action medeor.

The picture I see on the ground is terrible: everything is in ruins, rescue teams with dogs, excavators and cranes are working to rescue survivors. There are people everywhere on the streets because they have nowhere else to go. They have lost everything and need the most basic things: clothing, water, food, shelter.

Easing the greatest suffering

The situation in Syria is also dramatic, as our local partners tell us: Here, people who were already living in difficult conditions due to war and flight have been hit hard. In the areas controlled by the Syrian opposition, there are no state structures in place to support people or help with reconstruction after such a disaster.

In both countries, we are working with our partners to alleviate the greatest needs of the people: In emergency shelters where people find refuge, they receive a meal and fresh drinking water three times a day. They are provided with warm clothing, blankets and sleeping bags to protect them from the cold, especially at night. Hygiene products are also distributed. Mobile health teams are providing medical care for the people, treating them directly on site or organizing transport to the nearest hospital.

The aid must continue

The story of the Cengiz family* showed me very impressively that life has to go on somehow despite the tragedy that has occurred here. On my second visit to Turkey, eight weeks after the earthquake, I met the extended family in a tent camp. In total, the Cengiz family lost 36 family members in the earthquake. At the same time, one family member was heavily pregnant in hospital and expecting a child. New life in the midst of crisis: hope and a challenge at the same time.

It is clear that we are supporting the people affected. For example, the Cengiz family received baby food, clothing and diapers from us. We are providing medical teams and hospitals in the region with vital medicines, medical supplies and equipment to ensure that people receive medical care - for example, through aid deliveries from our medicines warehouse in Tönisvorst on the Lower Rhine.

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Your help is still needed!

We would be delighted if you would like to support our work in the earthquake zone and in many other crisis-stricken regions of the world - every additional donation is welcome and makes an important contribution!