The humanitarian aid works of the Turkish Red Crescent (TRCS), which took action immediately after earthquakes magnitude 7.2 and 5.6 took place in Van, are streaming.

The first TRCS Teams started their works in the earthquake area almost after in 2 hours after the quake. The relief items have been deployed from the logistics centres of the TRCS spread all over Turkey. 121 TRCS staff and dozens of the TRCS Volunteers are working uninterruptedly in the disaster area in order to meet the needs of the victims.

The TRCS who delivered 51.113 unit family tents and 3.794 prefabricated Mevlana houses, provided shelter to almost 272.000 number of victims by setting up 5 tent cities and 2 Mevlana cities in Van and in Erciş. The victims who are sheltered in all season double layer tents have received 139.825 blankets and 6.647 heaters for their heating.

Totally 2.000-2.500 container houses from the special fund allocated to earthquake zone by the EU and from the campaign carried out with Hürriyet Daily News will also be submitted to the victims in December 2011. There will be bath, toilette and kitchen inside of these high standard containers and they will be furnished and distributed to the victims.

The TRCS Soup hose in Van is providing 3 times meals in a day. Apart from this, 1 mobile bakery, 3 mobile catering vehicle and 22 mobile kitchens are working continuously to meet nutrition needs of the victims. 21.500 victims sheltered in tent and Mevlana house cities are being served of ready meals three times every day. Mobile meal distribution teams provide three times meals to 10.500 persons every day.

TRCS psychologists and 18 Psychosocial Support Volunteers are working in the disaster zone to provide psychosocial support to earthquake victims who are in difficulties as a result of disaster. Psycho Social Support experts are particularly working with children for recovering of the traumas.

The bloods and by blood products are provided by the TRCS for injuries. 2.332 unit bloods have been provided to the hospitals in the regions. TRCS keeps the blood stocks in the maximum in the region.

Support from the other National Societies is increasingly going on to the TRCS who made an appeal via International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. German, Swedish, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austrian, Canada, Norwegian, Japanese, Luxembourg, Iceland, South Korean Red Cross Societies and the Northern Cyprus Turkish Red Crescent, Iranian, Syrian and Iraqi Red Crescent Societies have provided relief items in coordination with the TRC. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the United Nations, The Secretary of the Defence of the USA also gave their hands to Van in coordination with the TRCS.

The Turkish and World public opinion are highly interested in the earthquake in Van. The Turkish people, the Turkish private companies and various organizations are supporting the donation campaign. The charity concerts are organized to provide assistance to disaster zone. The international companies like The Coca Cola Int., the Google Int., Western Union, Hyundai, Kia Motors and the Turkish Airlines are donating to the TRCS to support the Van Earthquake Humanitarian Aid Operation..

The TRCS relief works will continue with rehabilitation projects in post emergency phase.

Donation methods to Turkish Red Crescent

By SMS: from the all operators to 2868, empty message for 5 TL
Banks: Turkish Red Crescent bank accounts in all banks
Internet: www.kizilay.org.tr Telephone: free of charge donation and communication line 168
PTT: Turkish Red Crescent Postal Cheque no 2868 and all TRCS Branches.

For in-kind donations, donations line of 168 may be contacted as free of charge

With our great respects.