Türkiye: Shortages of food, water and health care

In Turkey, “there are urgent needs related to the lack of food, water and health care, and many of those providing immediate assistance are still working in extremely difficult conditions, in the aftermath of the massive earthquake that killed nearly 45,000 people in this country alone, last February.”

The warning is contained in a statement from World Council of Churches (WCC), after a visit of solidarity to several Turkish communities in the south, earlier in April, by WCC Secretary General Jerry Pillay and WCC Secretary General. ACT Alliance (the English acronym for the Joint Action of the Churches), Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, a foundation that has announced that it has raised $8.5 million to support those affected by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria.

Bueno de Faria, a survivor of the earthquakes that struck Central America in 2001, said: “The first thing that struck me was the strong impact of the earthquake on infrastructure and people’s lives. Compared to what I saw in Turkey, it was horrific. Watching the things people were facing and hearing the stories of how affected people, as well as societies as a whole, directly or indirectly.”

“One of the positive things we’re seeing now is the great ecumenical collaboration that’s happening,” said Jerry Pillay, adding that the two have met with different religious leaders in the country.