Latvian charity platform Ziedot.lv together with the Turkish embassy in Latvia and Tavi draugi association have started collecting donations for victims of the recent earthquake in Turkey.
«Latvia’s people stand together with Turkey’s people, who suffered one of the strongest earthquakes in the country’s history on the 6th of February. Thousands of people lost their lives and tens of thousands were injured. More than 5 000 buildings collapsed, including hospitals, making it more difficult to provide aid to victims. Search and rescue efforts continue. Tens of thousands of people have lost their homes, forced to seek shelter in shops, stadiums, mosques and other community centres,» Ziedot.lv explains.
The organisation together with the Turkish embassy has started collecting donations in Latvia to purchase necessities for victims – blankets, heaters, tents and medicines.
It is possible to donate here.
Tavi draugi association accepts humanitarian donations from residents – blankets, heaters and tents. Residents can pack them into transparent bags with notes attached as to the contents. Donations can be delivered to Tavi draugi warehouse on Ventspils Street 50 in Riga (10:00-18:00 Monday-Saturday).
The death toll from the earthquake with magnitude of 7.8 in Turkey and Syria exceeds 15 000 – around 12 390 in Turkey and more than 2 500 in Syria. The UN reports hundreds of death among children as well. The number of injured people in Turkey exceeds 50 000. Around 6 000 buildings are in ruins.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has declared a three-month state of emergency in regions that were hit by the earthquake the most. Locals, meanwhile, are angry over the slow progress with the rescue operation and inappropriate response from the government, Reuters reports.
Murat Alinak, a resident of Malatya, said: «There isn’t a single rescuer here. We are out in the snow, without homes, without anything. What are we supposed to do? Where are we supposed to go?»
Rescue workers have trouble gaining access to the regions hit by the earthquake the most. They are slowed by ruined roads, poor weather conditions, shortage of resources and the need to bring heavy equipment with them. Many regions are in blackout and are left with no fuel. Local residents try to dig through the debris on their own, often with bare hands, in an effort to search for survivors.
The Turkish government, meanwhile, plans to settle victims of the earthquake in tourist resorts in Antalya, state resorts and hotels.
More on this topic: Erdogan admits problems in rescue operations; death toll rises
Latvian charity platform launches donation collection for earthquake victims in Turkey
