Response to the Earthquake in Turkey

On August 17, an earthquake registering 7.4 on the Richter scale, hit Izmit, Turkey, approximately 55 miles east-southeast of Istanbul. Geophysicists at the U.S. National Earthquake Information Center described it as one of the most powerful recorded in the 20th century, nearly rivaling the 7.9-magnitude quake that devastated San Francisco in 1906. The earthquake was felt as far east as Ankara, 200 miles away, and across parts of the Balkans.

Turkish officials have reported that 15,466 people have died, and 23,954 have been injured. Approximately 60,434 houses were destroyed, 58,860 experienced moderate damage, and 68,391 were lightly damaged. Approximately 100,000 people are now homeless. (Unofficial statistics double that number to at least 200,000.) The cities hardest hit by the earthquake -- Izmit, Sakarya, Istanbul, Bolu, Bursa and Eshkeir -- make up Turkey's main industrial hub. Turkish officials estimate that the total cost to reconstruct industrial facilities, homes, public services, and other infrastructure will exceed $25 billion.

Israeli Prime Minister's Visit
On October 25th, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, accompanied by representatives of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (AJJDC) participated in an opening ceremony of the Israeli Village -- a comprehensive care site in Turkey, set up by the Israeli government to provide basic relief for earthquake victims. The Prime Minister was briefed by JDC Country Director Ami Bergman during his tour of the Israeli Village regarding JDC's activities in providing equipment for the Israeli Village's medical clinic, which houses four examination rooms and is administered by two doctors and two nurses. Bergman also detailed how JDC is funding and equipping the Israeli Village school, which has 12 modern classrooms and an enrollment of 420 students.

JDC's Response
In response to this devastating disaster, JDC opened a mailbox which has collected over $900,000. Along with providing medical, educational and recreational supplies at the Israeli village in Turkey, JDC is currently negotiating plans to build a rehabilitation center in Izmit. The center would be a collaborative effort by JDC, Project Hope, Finansbank (of Finland), and the Israeli and Turkish Ministries of Health. Services to be provided by the center would include comprehensive rehabilitation services (including stump revisions, gait training fitting of prosthetics, etc.), innovative treatments, training of health professionals, and outreach programs to the community.

Jewish Coalition for Earthquake Relief
The Jewish Coalition for Turkey Earthquake Relief was formed, with JDC as its coordinating member, to demonstrate the caring and concern of the Jewish Communities of North America and Great Britain for the victims of the earthquake in Turkey. The 45 participating agencies include: the American Jewish Committee, American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, American Jewish World Service, Anti-Defamation League, Canadian Jewish Congress, Conference of Presidents, Hadassah, Jewish Council for Public Affairs, Jewish Foundation for the Righteous, Jewish Reconstructionist Federation, MAZON, Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations, and Ve'ahavta. The Coalition mailbox has collected over $61,000 to date. This total is expected to rise as with the continued donations from Coalition members.

Report From the Field
(The following is an excerpt from a field report submitted on November 2nd )

The 312 housing units in the Israeli village house approximately 2,500 people. The families that have moved in are in the process of normalizing their daily activities now that they no longer have to worry about sufficient shelter on a daily basis. Laundry hangs from lines erected between houses. Even satellite dishes are attached to more than a few of the homes. Children are at play in the two parks that were built with equipment provided by the JDC.

Still though, reminders of the earthquake exist within the village. Destroyed buildings can be seen in the distance while the Turkish Red Crescent feeds about 50 people a meal of thick soup, bread and fruit. The people stood in line peacefully with dishes, awaiting their turn. There were men selling fruit and vegetables from the back of vans while buses routinely passed bringing people to and from the Adapazri city center.

The medical facility is complete and consists of an entrance room with a computer, a waiting room, a fully equipped dentist's room, a medical examination room, a gynecological exam room and a small laboratory. Residents of the village will be supplied free medical care. The facility itself is truly impressive. The staff consists of one doctor, two nurses, and an office person. The staff will rotate shifts on a weekly basis. One of the housing units has been set aside so that the medical staff may remain in the village for the entire week.

The school also is complete and in use. The classrooms are filled with new desks, chairs and chalk boards. Currently, the staff consists of the director, one deputy and one teacher. There are 30 students carrying Israeli notebooks and pencils, roaming the halls and eating sunflower seeds. The school will be fully operational on the following Monday. They are planning on teaching 280 students with a staff of 6 teachers. The students will come from the Israeli village and another tent village called Atso.

How You Can Help
JDC, in consultation and coordination with United Jewish Communities(UJC), is now accepting donations for aid to victims of the earthquake. Please contact us via email: donate@jdc.org