The Birmingham-based charity Mercy Relief is assisting survivors of the two massive earthquakes that struck Turkey on 6 February. In Turkey and Syria, the earthquakes killed 41,000 people and left an estimated 17 million in need of shelter, food, and medical assistance.
A member of Mercy Relief, Junaid Butt, described the devastation as “mind-boggling” and “unreal.” He stated, “As we walk around, some of the team members comment that it doesn’t look real. It appears to be a film set or something similar. It looks like a war zone.”
The team has been assisting in the preparation and distribution of over 1,500 meals per day, but Junaid stated, “It’s not enough, not even close.” He added, “The amount of need here is simply enormous and overwhelming, especially for a small organisation like ours.”
Mercy Relief discovered that 30% of buildings in the Osmaniye region had been destroyed or deemed unsafe, with one makeshift camp housing 120 families. In addition to providing aid alongside a local organisation, they have sought medical assistance for those in need.
The team discovered “90% destruction or structural damage” in the southern city of Antakaya, along with a large number of people in need of assistance. Junaid stated, “People are becoming increasingly desperate to find shelter, a safe place for their families.” Those affected by earthquakes have been receiving food packs and blankets from Mercy Relief.
Junaid described how his team felt “helpless” after witnessing the magnitude of the disaster. He stated, “We believe that by coming out here and doing what we can, we will feel somewhat helpful, but we only feel helpless. There’s so much more that they require, but we can’t provide it, so we leave with an empty feeling every night when we return home.”
Volunteers from the British charity Mercy Relief have arrived in Turkey to assist those affected by the 6 February 2020 earthquakes. With an estimated 17 million in need of aid and over 41,000 dead in Turkey and Syria, the amount of assistance required is enormous.
Junaid Butt, from Birmingham, is among the numerous charity workers assisting in Turkey’s relief efforts. Since Wednesday, when he landed at Adana airport, he has witnessed awe-inspiring sights. He said, “We are walking around, and some of the team members are saying it doesn’t seem real.” It appears to be a film set or something similar. It looks like a war zone.”
Mercy Relief is providing hot meals and distributing food packs and blankets to earthquake victims. In the Osmaniye region, 30% of structures were destroyed or deemed unsafe, while in the Antakaya region, 90% of structures were damaged or destroyed. Junaid stated, “People are becoming increasingly desperate to find shelter, a safe place for their families.”
Despite their efforts to provide aid to those in need, Junaid’s team felt powerless in the face of the magnitude of the disaster: “The amount of need here is enormous and overwhelming, especially for a charity of our size.”
The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) has issued an appeal for funds to assist those affected by the earthquakes, but Junaid insists that there is still a long way to go before the situation is under control. There is so much more that they require, and we simply cannot provide it.
A British charity is assisting survivors of two devastating earthquakes that have claimed the lives of 41,000 people in Turkey and Syria. Volunteers from Mercy Relief are distributing meals, food packs, and blankets to those affected, as well as seeking medical assistance for those in need. However, Junaid Butt from Birmingham stated that his team felt helpless in the face of such widespread destruction and an urgent need for assistance. The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) has issued a call for donations that will be used to provide aid in the affected areas.
