Expats on the field for earthquake victims in Turkey

Following the twin major earthquakes that struck Kahramanmaraş's Pazarcık and Elbistan on the same day, Help Yetim, an organization based in Europe, quickly mobilized numerous volunteer teams to assist with emergency relief efforts in Turkey. Over the past nine days, these teams have been working around the clock to rescue survivors from the rubble. Aid collected by expatriates has been delivered to affected regions like Adıyaman, Kahramanmaraş, Gaziantep, Mersin, Şanlıurfa, and Diyarbakır through coordination with local authorities and disaster crisis centers.

"We Came to Serve Our Homeland"

Cahit Ataş, President of Help Yetim Humanitarian Aid Organization, emphasized that they have been distributing aid across various sectors since the day of the disaster. He said, “As soon as the earthquake happened, our first team set off in response to the call from our volunteers in Turkey. For the first three days, we focused on search and rescue. Since the earthquake impacted such a vast area, the need for assistance was overwhelming. We quickly adapted our relief plan according to the immediate needs of each province with the help of local volunteers. Now, we are currently working with additional teams from different regions of Europe to establish a tent city with 500 tents."

"Turkey is Our Homeland, and We Came to Repay Our Debt"

Ataş highlighted the rapid response to the aid request from Turkish volunteers, saying, “We have been on the ground for a week, collaborating with local aid organizations. We are operating in areas assigned to us by the Governorates and disaster crisis centers. Turkey is our homeland, and we came to repay our debt to it. We are here to serve our people. Today is a day for unity. We have devised a three-month aid plan for the earthquake region. Our teams have played a crucial role in rescuing many injured individuals from the debris. Recently, we assisted in saving a 17-year-old boy in Adıyaman 138 hours after the quake. We continue to support other rescue operations as well."

"Today Is a Day for Unity and Brotherhood"

Ataş also made a heartfelt appeal to expatriates in Europe, stressing the immense need for aid in the earthquake region. He said, “The earthquake area is enormous, and although our state is strong, we cannot leave this burden solely on the shoulders of the government. Today is a day for unity and brotherhood, to embrace one another. We must learn from these earthquakes. Our urgent call for aid continues. We invite all our expatriates to contribute. Donations will be delivered in coordination with the Governorates and Disaster Crisis Centers according to the needs. Now is the time for each of us to do whatever we can, no matter how small.”

The Help Yetim Humanitarian Aid Organization is currently operating in five cities, deploying 10 vehicles, 15 European experts, and 115 local volunteers, with a total of 130 personnel actively engaged in search, rescue, and humanitarian assistance.