Turkey-Syria earthquake: How can the Bosch Alumni Network help?

On Monday, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Turkey and Syria, causing more than 20,000 deaths already with numbers increasing rapidly and severe destruction. Thousands of buildings collapsed and help is sparsely getting to those that need it most – whilst freezing weather conditions are further endangering survivors and more than 100 aftershocks have struck the region.

Several members of the Bosch Alumni Network are involved in organizing help – some even on the ground and on site. Here is their take on the situation and how we all can help – even from far away.

Ali Ercan – who is on site – says:

What’s the status quo on the ground due to your information, experience, perspective?

Ali Ercan: "We are in the last hours in which we  can rescue people alive from the buildings. Therefore, all the efforts are still on rescue – but people are quite tired. Gas, power, sanitation, food, and heat are missing. There has been at least some delivery of basic food, materials as well as big machines to the cities but traffic is a major problem. And there is a lot of rain.

The regions of Antakya, Kahramanmaraş, and Adıyaman are massively affected. In Antakya for example, close to 50% of the population is on the move, fleeing by car or buses."

What do people on the ground need most right now?

Ali Ercan: "They need tents, warmth, blankets, some food, and lots of water as well as small water heaters. People are on the street with no electricity or shelter."

How can Bosch Alumni Network members help so that people in need receive this?

Ali Ercan: "You can financially support İhtiyaç Haritası through:

• Online: https://fonzip.com/mindhub/fundraising-campaigns/needs-map-turkiye-earthquake-appeal
• Bank Transfer: Account holder: Mind Hub ASBL BIC: TRWIBEB1XXX / IBAN: BE07 9673 0294 1066
  Mindhub is the European Partner of İhtiyaç Haritası and will transfer them the entirety of the amount raised.

Sandrine Ramboux, who has been living in Istanbul for a long time and voluntarily working in communications support for the relief effort, adds:

"Ihtiyac Haritasi are currently working with UPS to bring cargo flights without custom fees (special permission) from Cologne to Adana where they have logistic warehouses. From these, they will deliver everything to 10 cities with smaller trucks. If this works, maybe we can launch a campaign for Bosch Alumni Network members located in Germany to bring various needs as identified by Ali Ercan above.

Furthermore, there is a lot of information spreading on WhatsApp and other networks which is not correct. It could e.g. be requested to support with language skills which sounds quite innocent but creates chaos in an already chaotic environment). Other videos claim to show difference in treatments between Syrian and Turkish people. This doesn’t help any, so maybe in the Bosch Alumni Network there are some people who are experts in fact-checking who could help here."

Another Bosch Alumni Network member deeply involved in the situation is Yoruk Kurtaran.

Through Sivil Toplum için Destek Vakfı he is working on fundraising for organizations like Ihtiyac Haritasi. Their main partner funding institution (Mozaik Foundation) raised close to 800,000 GBP in four days. They would benefit from further support as well.

Yoruk provides some additional information as well:

"Turkey Mozaik Foundation: UK-based organisation fundraising to support Turkish Civil Society directly or through their partner Sivil Toplum için Destek Vakfı. The Bosch Alumni Network member Yörük  Kurtaran and Laden Yurttagüler are part of the board of trustees of this organisation and Emrah Gürsel is part of the supervisory board.  This Turkish foundation works closely with large and small organisations on the field and provides direct financial support. In the last 4 days, Turkey Mozaik Foundation has already raised more than 875,000GBP and disbursed close to 145,000 GBP to Hayata Destek Derneği, İhtiyaç Haritası, TOKTUT and AKUT Search And Rescue Association.

• Hayata will supply clean drinking water, critical for maintaining hygiene, to survivors in Antakya, Hatay.
• İhtiyaç Haritası will assess the needs on the ground through fieldwork in coordination with public institutions, and deliver emergency needs such as winter clothes, heaters, blankets, sanitary pads, diapers, clean water, and tents) to the survivors.
• TOKTUT will deliver emergency food packages containing ready-to-eat meals to the survivors in coordination with the relevant public institutions.
• AKUT will use the grant support for its urgent equipment needs which will be used in search and rescue efforts in the region affected by the earthquake.
• Food Rescue Association will use the grant to support hot meal distribution.

Mozaik and their Turkish partners are doing a great job at identifying and giving where it is needed. They have also experience with this kind of events and are thinking also about the future. You can support them by donating here."

(picture (c) Voice of America via Wikimedia Commons)