Tzu Chi volunteers held seven aid distributions at El Menahil School in Istanbul, Turkiye, to ease the anxiety of the survivors of the earthquakes. (Photo: taken from DaAi News, Location: Turkiye, Date: 2023/02/17)

On three consecutive days from February 17 to 19, Tzu Chi held seven distributions and helped more than 1,100 families in Istanbul, Turkiye. On the 17th, two distributions at the El Menahil School benefited about 320 disaster victims who received supplies. In addition to providing materials, the volunteers wanted to heal the spiritual wounds of the victims through love and  warm embraces.

The distribution materials included gift cards, blankets, and scarves. The volunteers provided not only warm clothing but also a gift card that they organized together with a local  supermarket chain BIM, to enable the victims to purchase daily necessities. Due to the high number of arrivals in the city, the distributions in Istanbul were mainly aimed at those who came to seek refuge after the disaster. Volunteers conducted home visits to find out which families needed help and registered them.

Faisal Hu, a Tzu Chi volunteer in Turkiye, said: "We have 200 to 300 volunteers who visited each household in the local area. In the past few days, we had to visit disaster-stricken families and help them complete the registration from morning till night. Therefore we can find out 1,100 families in need of help within a short period."

At 9 a.m. local time on February 17, the first distribution at the El Menahil School started on time. Volunteers explained to the victims why Tzu Chi had come to distribute aid and why they hoped to make the victims feel at ease. After the devastating earthquake, panic and bewilderment still remained on the faces of the victims.

Tzu Chi volunteer Nadya Chou said: "Experiencing the earthquake and the pain of death and separation is not something ordinary people can bear, but they still have to endure it. Although I think they may not smile today, I hope that material assistance and our hugs make them feel warm and cared for."

Faisal Hu, a Tzu Chi volunteer, gave a warm hug to a recipient during the distribution at El Menahil School in Istanbul, Turkiye. (Photo: taken from DaAi News, Location: Turkiye, Date: 2023/02/17)

A tiny room for a whole family

A total of 17 members of the family of Omar, an elderly man, were killed in the devastating earthquake on February 6. He took the rest of his family to Istanbul to seek a safe place to stay. When Tzu Chi volunteers saw Omar coming to take the supplies alone, they were worried that he could not carry the blankets by himself; so they thoughtfully drove to help him transport the supplies back to where he is living.

When Tzu Chi volunteers came to the temporary residence of Omar's family, they could not help but feel sad and worried. A double bed and a sofa could barely fit into the small room, but it was where Omar's family of five lived every day. Omar sadly told volunteers about the damage caused by the earthquake: "I live here because my house was ruined, and we really have nothing left."

Leaving their family homes with nothing and looking for temporary accommodation is a common plight of the victims in Turkey and Syria after the earthquake. With the victims facing anxiety in their daily life and the future, Tzu Chi will do their best to help them through these most critical moments with tangible supplies, as well as intangible love and care.

Tzu Chi volunteers held aid distributions at El Menahil School in Istanbul, hoping to ease the post-earthquake anxiety of the survivors. (Photo: taken from DaAi News, Location: Turkiye, Date: 2023/02/17)

Source: DaAi News, reported from Turkiye, 2023/02/17