Photo-Mehran Bhat/TK

REGIONAL

Kashmiris start massive relief operations to earthquake-hit Syria, Turkey

By News Desk

February 13, 2023

Relief including food, blankets, and other essentials is being donated in Kashmir in massive quantities for Turkey and Syria, where more than 29,000 persons have died after a massive earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale hit the region last Monday. Relief including food, blankets, and other essentials is being donated in Kashmir in massive quantities for Turkey and Syria, where more than 29,000 persons have died after a massive earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale hit the region last Monday.

‘We the helping hands’, a Srinagar-based NGO, spearheading the relief collection operations has said that it is receiving an “unexpectedly” massive response for Kashmiris who have come from nooks and corners of the valley to donate for the victims of the earthquake.

Umar, who runs the NGO told The Kashmiriyat that they got in touch with the Turkish embassy in New Delhi who provided a list of the items victims of the earthquake needed after which the NGO put the list on their facebook page.

He said that the list of the items provided by the Embassy included clothes , kids wear, shoes, shawls, blankets and the quantity sought was expected to be collected in ten days, however, Kashmiris donated in huge numbers and quantity. “The same quantity was collected in five days,” Umar said.

He said that it was overwhelming to see such a massive response from people to the relief donation appeal.

Umar’s NGO is not the only one collecting relief for the earthquake hit region. Ehsaas International, another Srinagar based NGO, that works on educational upliftment has started a donation drive in cash for the victims. In a span of less than 24 hours people have donated over 5 Lakh rupees Turks and Syrians.

Kashmir based courier service, Fastbeetle has also expressed its willingness to help the region stating that, “Our hearts go out to the victims of the recent earthquake in Türkiye. The loss of life and property has been devastating, and it’s a reminder of the fragility of our existence.”

“We at Fastbeetle feel it is our duty to help in any way we can. That’s why we’ve decided to offer our services for free to anyone who wants to donate to the earthquake victims in Turkey from Kashmir,” Fastbeetle wrote on Twitter.