UPDATE ON FEB 25TH, 2023

Woke up in ŞanlıURFA, again at the edge of the earthquake zone. Spent the night in a 650-year-old caravan hotel. If it has stood for 650 years, it’ll probably stand for another 650 years, with or without earthquakes. Later we pass through Diyabakir.   Part of the city wall that has stood since the 4^th century collapsed. Strangely it wasn’t the ancient wall that collapsed, but it was a new renovations done by the local government. This this highlights what is a major topic in the local press. Right before the previous election, the current administration, granted amnesty for all billing code violations. The government received no small amount of money by turning a blind eye to these egregious practices. Many of these buildings collapsed during the earthquake and now more than 200 general contractors are in jail.  This issue may have political implications in the upcoming election.

We help pack some food packages and we got to play with some kids. My friend Lawrence, after almost a week of mostly looking at collapsed buildings and talking with officials, after playing with kids, almost with a tear in his eye said, “I really needed that.” It’s the human touch.  After all, this is what it’s all about – – helping people and giving them hope.

https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/turks-ask-boom-town-came-103604891.html

UPDATE ON FEB 24TH, 2023

In Malatya – even though we have driven more than 200 miles from Antakya/Antioch, the destruction is incredibly widespread. Confused about the location of our 07:00 breakfast meeting with OCHA (the coordinating arm of the United Nations) we eventually met the director in his office. People criticize the UN for their large budgets and lavish spending. This man, who possesses multiple graduate degrees, sleeps in a tent on the compound.  He also allowed three of our teammates  to spend the night in one of their small backpacking tents. The director gave us some tremendous insights and helped connect our local leader to the coordinating meeting. Amazingly, the OCHA director informed us that we were just the second international NGO to show up in the province. With our mandate to giving help and hope to the hidden and the hurting, this is definitely an underserved area.

Our partner in Malatya is providing 800 meals a day at the government hospital. The doctors, nurses and patients all love our team there. They asked them to add a second service. They’re overworked under resourced and they need more help.

UPDATE ON FEB 18TH, 2023

One of the most urgent and biggest needs right now are tents, and heaters, given the dropping temperatures to stay warm. Our connections with companies in Turkey that produce tents lets you make an impact today. By clicking the link in our bio, you can donate $800 towards a weatherized all-season tent that houses 8-15 people or $250 towards a heater to help families in Turkey stay warm.  $1,500 will house 1-3 related families and feed them for a month.

UPDATE ON FEB 16TH, 2023

As the human suffering is immeasurable, many times the response is measured by the number of water bottles, diapers and body bags distributed. The official death toll has climbed to over 40,000, yet our friends on the ground tell us that the real number is likely higher. The pain of a mother that has lost her entire family and future or the grief of a father holding the lifeless body of his baby are being felt across an area that stretches across 200 miles. This is similar to the distance from New York City to Boston; the earthquake destroyed most of the cities in between. The scope of the work is unfathomable.

UPDATE ON FEB 14TH, 2023

The first supply truck we sent was lost (went dark – incommunicado) for almost 24 hrs.  It was so cold, the driver’s cell phone stopped working.  We had feared that it had fallen into the hands of bandits, as looting and stealing is rampant (out of desperation) in the region. It arrived at the first soup kitchen and delivered much needed supplies and ingredients. The next truck arrives tomorrow, delivering supplies and food to be prepared.

UPDATE ON FEB 12TH, 2023

After setting up our soap kitchens in tents, local government leaders informed us that we needed to have something more permanent to show our commitment.  With the help of friends (after all that is what partners are) we purchased 5 modified containers.  These are no ordinary shipping containers.  They have a door and windows and insulation.  They are wired and plumbed and a linoleum floor.  Within 36 hours of getting the new request/directive, the containers rolled out of Izmir, Turkey to the devastated area.

UPDATE ON FEB 10TH, 2023

38,000 pounds of supplies including lentils, pasta, potatoes, soup, onions, gloves, hoodies and socks, and hygiene items were sent by GHNI to people facing the horrific aftermath of the earthquake in Turkey last week. Our team and 2 vans full of supplies arrived and were given access to the earthquake area in response to the disaster.

However, more blankets, food, and supplies will be needed now and in the long term as the death toll surpasses 21,000. We’re working directly with the largest outdoor equipment company in Turkey to provide tents to ensure warm protection from the harsh winter conditions.

Supplies are desperately needed. That’s why we need your help TODAY. By donating today at the link in our bio, you can help make a direct impact on the lives of those who are in critical need.

UPDATE ON FEB 8TH, 2023

“…He was lost in his thoughts, overcome by the horror he had witnessed earlier in the day, one moment he had been waving to his neighbors across the street, a husband and wife enjoying a cup of tea – something he said they did every day. In an instant they were gone, the building collapsed following the first tremor. 

He has not seen them since.  

Their apartment building now is little more than a giant pile of rubble.

Still lost in his thoughts, he wandered away. Stories such as these are being communicated to reporters and anyone who will listen. Those that survive, struggle to know how to deal with what they have just experienced…”

Reeling from the quakes and aftershocks in Turkey and Syria, our Turkish National Field Leader is on the ground with her team, where over 11,800 lives are lost, and that number is growing. 

Unfortunately, the people of this region know this experience all too well. Our Turkish Director, Başak Çelik, spent one year in the area before the earthquake hit. She is GHNI’s on-the-ground expert, working with our partners and bringing critical essential food, water, and blankets to those whose homes and families have been shattered by the quakes.

Read the following words from Başak Çelik, GHNI’s Director of Turkey: 

“We purchased food, water, stoves and other consumables today…put them in 2 minivans and sent them to Malatya, Adiyaman and Antakya with 14 volunteers from Kurtulus Churches, (one of our partners in the region) We have a food supplier in Izmir and we are sending soups and tea materials from Izmir to Adiyaman. A mobile kitchen has begun putting together food boxes that have a meal for 8, we’re gathering water and our Women’s empowerment center is making and sending warm clothes to the site to be given to the families who’ve lost everything.

Time is so critical and that’s why we are asking you to take action TODAY, by giving online to GHNI!

Give here: https://bit.ly/drturkey

We’ll update you on what our Turkish team and partners on site are seeing, doing and needing, to continue this critical response! 

As the hours tick away and the temps continue to drop, please join us in bringing food, water, and blankets to the sites ravaged by these quakes.

Please take a moment as well to tell a family member, friend or colleague and ask them to join you and make a gift to GHNI to help as well.

—

Murray Hills

Executive Director

GHNI

UPDATE ON FEB 6TH, 2023

Two earthquakes hours apart hit at least 10 cities. Freezing temps and snowfall are hindering the immediate rescue and aid to those needing it the most.  The destruction has been heartbreaking, people are desperate to get into the area to help locate loved ones that are lost or displaced.  

All of our staff are safe, though some of our associates and partners are still awaiting news of family members missing, under collapsed apartment buildings – all we know is, they are under the rubble..  One of the quakes, a 7.8 magnitude, occurred 20 miles from the major city of Gaziantep, in southeast Turkey.  It’s Turkey’s worst disaster in decades, the country’s president said. News of the devastation is still pouring in and the death toll is expected to climb. Officials are already asking for help from the international community. 

You can help, too!

Both National Leader Basak Celik, and I have extensive experience responding to earthquakes in Turkey. 

We are ready to help now, working with trusted friends and national partners to get the much-needed relief supplies to those who need it most. We are beginning to mobilize our response to help displaced victims with food boxes, quilts, and the like to help during the days and weeks ahead.  

We value your partnership in responding to this crisis and will be keeping you regularly updated as we press ahead with our efforts. 

We have reputable and seasoned organizations that will be joining us in our response.  

We hope that you’ll also be part of making a difference!

–

Jeff Lasta

Regional Field Leader

GHNI