B.C. residents band together to send funds, supplies to earthquake victims in Turkey | 24CA News

Canada
Published 10.02.2023
B.C. residents band together to send funds, supplies to earthquake victims in Turkey  | 24CA News

A bunch of B.C. residents has banded collectively to lift funds and provides to ship to earthquake victims in Turkey.

More than 2,500 bins of provides have been gathered in a Vancouver warehouse.

Organizers mentioned the entire provides are heading to Turkey on direct flights out of YVR 3 times every week.

“As soon as we heard about the earthquake, we gathered a couple of friends and said, ‘Let’s do something,’” mentioned Buket Donnelly, a Turkish-Canadian organizer.

“We can’t fly to Turkey to help but we can collect some donations and sent that.”

More than 300 folks have come collectively to make issues occur on the warehouse.

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The group of mates, who created an Instagram account, @helpturkeyvancouver, contacted the Turkish Consulate General in Vancouver to kick issues off.

Through the consulate common, the group was capable of join with Turkish Airlines which is offering free delivery for donations.

“At first we sent clothing, but soon they said they needed body bags and baby food,” Donnelly mentioned.

“Babies are on the streets. They need shoes, they need new clothing. Please send us masks, gloves, and new tents.”

The group is accepting donations at a warehouse at 580 Industrial Ave. in Vancouver however organizers mentioned to not carry second-hand objects.

“Please send us priorities — things like new medical supplies, new tents, new warm clothing and canned food,” she mentioned.

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The group is popping away second-hand objects, particularly clothes and blankets, as they mentioned Turkish officers received’t settle for them on account of lice and different medical considerations.

Priority model new objects wished embody child diapers, child meals, child bottles, child winter garments, grownup winter garments, blankets and sleeping baggage, grownup diapers, first help kits, canned meals, and hygiene merchandise.

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One volunteer arrived in Vancouver Thursday after accumulating objects in Edmonton and driving all evening.

“I drove all night. I left Edmonton around 8 p.m. last night. We need help. The children need help,” mentioned Sedat Dikencik.

“We are trying to help as best as possible.”

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The Turkish Consulate General in Vancouver, Taylan Tokmak, praises the group’s efforts.

“Turkish people in Vancouver organized very quickly,” he mentioned.

“In one day they collected about one tonne of supplies. Globally, we are trying to coordinate our efforts and all the embassies to see what is needed now and what is needed in the long run. We have to focus on keeping the survivors alive.”

Tokmak reiterated the teams asks of shelter provides, particularly for tents, as hundreds of properties have been destroyed within the earthquakes.

A robust 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked vast swaths of Turkey and Syria early Monday, toppling hundreds of buildings.

The dying depend has risen to greater than 19,000 folks whereas tens of hundreds have been left homeless.

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— with recordsdata from Associated Press

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