Bolsover Rotary members were struck, like many others, with a desire to help the victims 0f the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, and we have donated £2,000 to help.
Rotary-backed charities are launching their responses to the earthquakes that have ravaged southern Turkey and northern Syria.
The first 7.8 magnitude quake struck near Gaziantep, Turkey in the early hours of 6th February followed by a 7.5 magnitude tremor hours later.
So far, over 33,000 people have lost their lives due to the earthquakes and thousands more have been left homeless in freezing weather.
More than 20,000 buildings have collapsed across both countries and officials are warning that 23 million people could be affected by the disaster across both countries.
Rescue efforts are taking place across vast areas but they are being hindered by the winter weather as well as the aftershocks from the earthquakes, with at least 243 aftershocks being recorded so far.
Bolsover Rotary has decided to support with two donations.
Firstly, we have a personal contact with the Rotary Club of Antalya in Turkey, and they have indicated a need for money, in order to acquire the necessary equipment to aid the rescue and recovery effort. As a demonstration of the power of Rotary’s international fellowship, we are sending £1,000 immediately.
Alongside that, we have decided to donate to Shelterbox, Rotary’s global partner for Disaster Relief. Bolsover Rotary members have sent sufficient funds to provide two complete Shelterboxes, at a cost of £590 each.
Their highly trained response teams have been working tirelessly in both Turkey and Syria to deliver aid to the regions affected by the earthquake.
Shelterbox delivers the essentials families need to begin rebuilding their lives after disaster.
Their website describes the help they provide very well:
Each disaster is different, and so is every community. We don’t believe that one size fits all, so we spend time talking to affected families to make sure we provide the right support at the right time.
For some disaster-hit communities, our family-sized tents are the best solution until they are able to start rebuilding their homes. In other disasters, heavy duty tarpaulins, ropes and nails are needed to create emergency shelter or to patch-up damaged buildings.
We know that a home is much more than bricks and mortar or tarpaulin and tent pegs. That’s why we also offer other disaster relief items that are essential for survival and can help to turn a shelter into a home.
Shelterbox Website 2023
The team in Turkey met with Rotary District Governors in Istanbul to discuss the logistical challenges of accessing the affected areas.
They are now accepting donations via their website to help those affected by the earthquake.
The picture shows the Shelterbox urgent response team with members of Rotary in Turkey
