As the combined death toll from the devastating earthquake in Turkey near the border with Syria continues to rise, humanitarian organization Gift of the Givers volunteers are on the ground to aid rescue efforts and provide much-needed aid.
The strongest earthquake in nearly a century struck Turkey and Syria early Monday, killing more than 1,200 people in their sleep.
The victim died
The 7.8 magnitude earthquake also shook buildings and caused tremors as far as Iraq.
Over 4 300 people have so far been confirmed dead in Turkey and Syria while thousands have been injured and many more are still unaccounted for as rescue crews continue to pull more bodies from the rubble.
Challenge
Gift of Givers founder Dr. Imtiaz Sooliman said The Warga The deadly earthquake has caused huge challenges for Turkey and Syria.
“Our team at Ar-Rahma Hospital in Syria which is Gift of the Gives and has been there since 2012, has started to see victims. There are casualties in all parts of Syria. The number will be very high.”
“We have opened a standby hospital called Hilaal on the border with Turkey and Syria and transferred patients there and created an additional medical team at the site,” said Dr. Sooliman.
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rescue efforts
Dr. Sooliman added that Gift of Givers has sent a rescue team to Turkey to help with rescue efforts.
He said the team will help with tents, blankets, medicine and food and whatever else is needed to help the rescue efforts.
“To help Turkey, we have a search and rescue team, a medical team, medical equipment, search and rescue everything from tomorrow. We created a team of 60 personnel in this category and we are increasing it to a hundred.
Cooperation
Dr. Sooliman said Gift of the Givers also has the full cooperation of the Turkish government to help with rescue efforts in conjunction with other aid agencies and rescue groups.
“We have met the (Turkish) ambassador, the consulate general in Cape Town, spoken to people on the ground in Turkey and the South African ambassador to Turkey has called us to help. We have also spoken to Turkish Airlines who will facilitate all transfers and flights from South Africa to Istanbul and others that require assistance.
Dr. Sooliman has expressed his condolences from the Gift of the Givers to the Turkish government, the Turkish people and the families of the victims who suffered losses as a result of the deadly earthquake.
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