Türkiye & Syria Emergency Response: Week 1
It is said that the survival rate of those impacted by disasters drops dramatically after the first 72 hours, so search-and-rescue crews continued to work hard this week to save those trapped beneath the rubble. Even after the 72 hour mark, ARROWS search-and-rescue teams worked with Peace Winds’ local partner organizations to search for survivors throughout the night and into the early morning on Thursday. Rescue workers search under the watchful eye of survivors hoping to find their missing friends and family members.
The death toll continues to climb, currently having surpassed 22,000 as of Friday morning, February 10. Those who survived are waiting for help amid the harsh winter weather. According to WHO, 300,000 of the survivors are now homeless, and 23 million are in need of assistance.
Peace Winds teams met with officials at a field hospital set up in İskenderun where the lead doctor says they are seeing 100 patients each day. The hospital will bring in a new doctor this weekend and plans to improve its operations to aid as many people as possible.
Peace Winds teams are also making sure to assist “forgotten” shelters in smaller cities where supplies are not as easily delivered. These shelters are located on the outskirts of the larger central hubs where much of the aid is concentrated.
The scene in small and large shelters alike is chaotic with donations coming in and evacuees trying to find a place to sleep amid the crowd of supplies and people. Many end up sleeping in chairs, on the hard floor, or even outside. Some of the earthquake survivors cried and hugged the Peace Winds employees who handed them blankets and candy for their children, who were overjoyed.
“Look at our feet,” one mother cried. “We’re wearing slippers.” She recalled the moment the earthquake struck when she couldn’t take anything with her before she rushed out of her collapsing home. “It’s cold both inside and outside. I’m so grateful for the blankets.”
Peace Winds will continue search-and-rescue operations, medical aid, and relief supply distribution along with our local partner organizations. We thank you for your continued support.
