Tzu Chi received permission from the Turkish authorities to enter the disaster areas. On February 15, the team was divided into two groups. One group went to four provinces including Hatay, the hardest-hit area in southern Turkiye, to conduct disaster surveys. The other group stayed in Istanbul. On February 17 and 18, the volunteers will hold the first distribution to provide material assistance to more than 1,000 households who fled to Istanbul. This will include gift cards, blankets, mattresses, scarves, and other warm clothing.
More than 8,000 blankets donated by Tzu Chi have all arrived in Istanbul. The Tzu Chi Disaster Relief Team led by the Deputy CEO of Tzu Chi Charity Foundation, Simon Shyong, arrived in Turkiye on February 11. The next day, on behalf of Tzu Chi, the first international organization to be received after the earthquake, he met the Turkish Vice President. With his full support, Tzu Chi was given approval to enter the disaster areas to provide assistance.
On February 12, through the coordination of Ali Uslanmaz, former deputy governor of Kayseri, four representatives took a plane to the capital Ankara to call on Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay.
Deputy CEO Simon Shyong gave him a summary of the experiences of Tzu Chi's past disaster relief work, as well as a report on the Foundation’s aid plans in Turkiye. Shyong said that Tzu Chi looked forward to caring for the affected people and delivering supplies directly, as it has done everywhere. Vice Governor Ali also reported to the Vice President his understanding of Tzu Chi, the warmth he felt all the time, and the concern of Master Cheng Yen for the victims.
Vice Governor Ali said that Tzu Chi was the first and currently the only organization allowed to visit the Vice President. The Vice President also expressed his support for Tzu Chi's aid plan. The Turkish government quickly approved and provided permits for Tzu Chi volunteers, vehicles, and reporters to enter the disaster areas. Furthermore, the government will provide lists of victims to facilitate Tzu Chi's aid operations.
Warm clothing and materials with gift cards make care more thoughtful
After this severe catastrophe, more than 1,000 households fled to Istanbul, and an estimated 40,000 families were displaced in the main disaster-affected areas in southern Turkiye. On February 13, in an online meeting with Jing Si Abode, Simon Shyong said that, once they get permission from the Turkish government, Tzu Chi will hold distributions in Istanbul and the southern disaster-stricken areas. The distribution materials include blankets, scarves, mattresses, and gift cards for the victims to purchase daily necessities in the local chain supermarket BIM.
Master Cheng Yen reminded them that the amount of the gift card must take into account the global inflation after the pandemic and the needs of local people's livelihood, so that the victims can settle down quickly.
Don't hesitate to help others, just do it!
On February 13, after listening to the online report of the disaster relief team, Master Cheng Yen thanked all the team members on the front line. She also thanked Ali, the former Vice Governor, for his constant support. Simultaneously, the Master was also worried about the freezing weather in Turkiye, and said the victims could not wait, so she instructed the relief team to take action immediately -- "Just do it!"
Tzu Chi Disaster Relief Team wasted no time and set off for Hatay Province on February 15; after a 12-hour drive, they arrived in the disaster areas. After setting up a coordination station at the hotel provided by a friend of former Vice Governor Ali, they started an on-site disaster investigation right away. The team provisionally staying in Istanbul for the distribution on February 17th and 18th will also go to the disaster areas to meet their colleagues after completing the distribution in Istanbul.
(Source: Report from Tzu Chi Foundation, Turkiye, 2023/02/15)
