maitaitom

Message from Fodor's regarding the earthquake in Turkey

That post from Fodor's was from the 1999 Turkey earthquake.

PegS

OC, glad you're safe, dismayed about your heart attacks, but I'm greatly admiring your recuperation plan.

I'm heartsick over the loss of life and destruction, and wish we could do more to help.

annw

OC, thanks so much for your updates and sending best wishes for your health. If you have any suggestions for specific and credible relief organizations on the ground there I hope you'll pass them along.

LucieV

Yes, that's why I posted it...only 24 years later, another absolutely devastating quake in the same country.

otherchelebi

Latest from the region : dead toll close to 17,000. Injured, almost 70.000 in turkey alone

some were rescued even today after four day, some with relatives and pets, including one bird and quite a few cats which had not deserted their owners.

Rescue and aid groups continue making it to the area like the group from the union of electricians of Istanbul

Unfortunately the security forces are having difficulty in separating thieves from desperate looters for food and water.

All schools are closed for two more weeks and universities until further notice in all of Turkey.

A presidential aid appeared on TV, criticizing all NGO's and non -party municipalities who are aiding in the region, shouting, "Who do you think you are?"

LucieV

Anybody heard this on NPR this morning? An agonizing first-person account of hell on earth. As Leila Fadel concludes, hopefully millions of people will hear this woman's account and be added to the list of those who will offer help...because at this point, that help is simply not available.

The majority of Syrian refugees live in southern Turkish cities near the Syrian border. NPR's Leila Fadel talks to Assalah Shikhani, a Syrian refugees in the Turkish city of Antakya, about the quake.
https://www.npr.org/2023/02/09/11556...the-earthquake

annw

Heartbreaking.

NYT reporting over 20,000.... Disaster of the century indeed.

otherchelebi

Friday 1500 hours, latest tallies: Note that these are based on verified identification : 19,000, and injured 74,400. Still tens of villages not yet reached and thousands of buildings not investigated.

The weather showing below freezing temperatures. High need of tents and containers.

the opposition political parties have moved 150 trucks of aid, joining the mayors of the local governments they hold.The tiny labor party is apparently the best organized. We gave our aid packages to them for transport to the site where they distribute them according to need and not political views like the government agencies.

If you can manage, I suggest the you send your donations to the Mayors Offices of Antakya and.or Adana
Hatay Büyükşehir Sehir belediye Baskanligi
Adana Büyükşehir Belediye Baskanligi

Unfortunately, the Red Crescent funds and the Earthquake taxes were diverted by the government to their supporting contractors whose construction were the first to collapse.

The mayor of istanbul, visiting the area immediately in the second day, pledged one year's salary as his personal donation to the earthquake aid. the opposition MPs donated one month's salary.

the president, blocked some of the aid and the social media in Hatay where the opposition is stronger.

otherchelebi

And a depressive(!) PoemJOURNEY TO EXTINCTION



Does oblivion come to the phoenix?

And if it does, is there more than one of this creature?

Nay, more than the fingers of both hands of populations.

I suspect that this Phoenix,

this old, somewhat mutilated, een defiled spirit

not caring

not conceiving

not perceiving

immortality



Trudging

Thinking

Observing

Contemplating

A few paths

fewer routes

among crowds of people

and of plants

and of rocks and such

through mysteries and adventures

recorded and narrated only in time past

and secret annals buried in cold wasteland

Beholds its travel within a hair strand



Ahmet C. Celebiler

otherchelebi

The toll continues to rıse. Almost 30,000 dead and over 90,000 injured All schools close natıonwıde tıll feb 20, unıversıtıes closed except for dıstance learnıng tıll end of term.

My wıfe checked agaın the earthquake damage forecast for our dıstrıct ın ıstanbul, for the expected earthquake worst case scenarıo,of magnıtude 7.5. we seem to be ın good shape, possıbly wıth 91 buıldıngs at rırisk, possıbly one dead and 80 injured. Most of the aıd needed from now on wıll be fınancıal, to help house and care for the survıvors dependıng on the sıtuatıon on the ground. We have dıffıculty helpıng through the munıcıpalıtıesö because the government has exproprıated all donatıons receıved by the opposıtıon controlled munıcıpalıtıes ın the last few dısasters, and we do not trust the government controlled organızatıon, AFAD.

This government also took over management of the Turkish Red Crescent some time ago going as far as not allowing it to contract for or build and erect tents Wıth all mılıtary aıö search and rescue traınıng stopped almost twenty years ago mılıtary doctors and medical corps also dısbanded, the military aid after this dısaster has been minimal. 4 days after the earthquake the Minister of Defense informed us that there were 7,500 military personnel ınvolved ın search rescue and the ıdea of accessing the region vıa aır or sea was considered maybe fıve days after the need was recognızed.

After the 1999 dısaster, there were 24ö000 traıned mılıtary on the scene wıthın hours usıng more than 20 helıcopters and naval shıps.

The presıdent decided that two of the aiplanes ın hıs private fleet could be allowed to help fıve days after the earthquake. Can he still win in the elections in coming months with all opposıtıons having joined against him?

otherchelebi

The president(!) ordered(!) all public university housing to be vacated over the whole country to be used for earthquake sufferers. This is sheer ignorance if not a despicable show of force. Most of those kids were on scholarships and do not have the funds to go back home or live elsewhere.It is absurd to think that families from affected areas cold fit and live in dorms most of which do not have kitchens and no baby or sanitary facilities suitable for small children. This will mean unto 1,200 miles transport for both the earthquake victims and the de-housed students.