The faith-based Amity Foundation has been joining local rescue units in earthquake-hit Türkiye.
After arriving in Istanbul at 6 a.m. on February 10, the relief team of the Amity Foundation transferred to Malatya and started to join local forces for follow-up rescue work, said Amity.
A 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Türkiye and neighboring Syria on Monday, followed by another 7.5-magnitude quake, resulting in more than 33,000 deaths as of Friday, according to AFP.
Several foundations, including Amity, and rescue teams established the “Emergency Response Coodination Centre for Chinese NGOs ” on Thursday. The alliance plans to provide registration, filing, and logistical support to the front-line relief teams.
On Friday, they did an investigation on needs once they join local rescue work in Malatya, such as the shortage of supplies during the emergency rescue phase and the basic life supplies that will be used during the transition to the resettlement phase. The next response approach will be determined after research. They went to Adana and Hatay on Saturday.
The foundation added that it would coordinate different sides to send more Chinese people to the headquarters and to connect local resources with China.
“We hope to learn more about international experiences through this rescue work and to contribute to the progress of humanitarian causes,” it said.
Cui Yazhou, a member of Amity’s rescue team, said that there were many touching moments on the way to the disaster-hit area.
“The staff of the airport in Wuhan opened the green channel for us to dispatch the bags and check in the luggage after knowing we were going to do rescue work in Türkiye. On the board, the attendants broadcasted blessings for us, wishing us a safe trip and safe return.
“When we entered the transfer lounge at the airport in Istanbul, locals immediately stood up from the chairs, put away their luggage, and gave us those lounges upon seeing us. They applauded for us, too.”
To their surprise, friendly locals in an affected area offered them hot meals because they knew that the team was there for them.
Cui stated that while the low temperatures and occasional wind and snow would make rescue work in Malatya and surrounding districts more difficult, the friendship and warmth he encountered along the way would sustain his fellows and him.
Amity Foundation, an independent Chinese social development organization, was founded in 1985 on the initiative of Chinese Christians to promote education, social service, health, community development, and civil society building.
北京时间今日上午6时（当地时间9日凌晨1时），爱德救援队安全抵达伊斯坦布尔机场，后经土耳其方面统一安排，与同行的其他中国救援力量于今日上午10时（当地时间上午5时）左右飞抵马拉蒂亚，开始与当地相关合作伙伴对接，了解受灾地区的最新情况，计划根据具体需求进一步开展救助工作。
为了让中国的社会力量能够安全、有序、有效地参与本次国际人道主义响应，在应急管理部的指导下，2月9日，包括爱德基金会在内的多家基金会、救援队联合成立“中国社会力量参与土耳其地震响应协调大本营”，为赴土耳其地震前线的队伍提供登记报备与后勤支持，并协助对接联合国人道事务协调办公室与土耳其灾难和应急管理署等资源，帮助中国社会力量在保证自身安全的前提下开展救援救灾工作。
据爱德救援队崔亚洲说，到达马拉蒂亚后，救援队立刻与当地伙伴对接，着手对该地及周边的情况进行深入了解与需求调研，比如了解当地民众在紧急救援阶段可能面临的物资短缺情况，以及进入到过渡安置阶段可能产生的各种基本生存保障需求。之后再根据调研情况确定下一步响应方式。
同时，爱德救援队还将协同各方支持中国社会力量参与土耳其地震响应协调大本营的工作，链接国内与当地各种资源，为赶赴灾区开展救援工作的中国社会组织提供支持和协调服务。“此外，我们希望在这次驰援行动中学习更多国际经验，为推动人道主义事业的发展贡献力量。”
在奔赴灾区的过程中，有不少时刻让崔亚洲备受感动与鼓舞。
“武汉机场的工作人员得知我们是去驰援土耳其后，在行李打包、托运等多个环节都给我们提供了绿色通道。在飞机上，乘务员还为我们播报了祝福，祝我们一路顺利、平安归来。”
而到达伊斯坦布尔机场后，这样的感动仍在继续。“土耳其方面跟我们的对接效率非常高。还有一个细节让我印象很深刻：我们在伊斯坦布尔机场进入转机候机室时，当地人看到我们，立马从休息椅上站起来，并把行李拿开，把休息椅全部让给我们坐，还一起给我们鼓掌。”
让崔亚洲没想到的是，到达灾区的“第一餐”，来自友好的当地民众。“他们知道我们是来帮助他们的，主动为我们准备了热乎乎的餐食。”
崔亚洲说，马拉蒂亚及周边地区本次受灾较严重，且目前当地的气温较低，偶尔还会出现风雪天气，这为驰援工作增加了难度。但一路感受到的友好，让他和同行的伙伴们在严寒风雪中始终充满力量。
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/sn5Qe6oydtRjJnhdkaXeWQ
驰援土耳其地震|中国社会力量参与土耳其地震响应协调大本营成立
The faith-based Amity Foundation has been joining local rescue units in earthquake-hit Türkiye.
After arriving in Istanbul at 6 a.m. on February 10, the relief team of the Amity Foundation transferred to Malatya and started to join local forces for follow-up rescue work, said Amity.
A 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Türkiye and neighboring Syria on Monday, followed by another 7.5-magnitude quake, resulting in more than 33,000 deaths as of Friday, according to AFP.
Several foundations, including Amity, and rescue teams established the “Emergency Response Coodination Centre for Chinese NGOs ” on Thursday. The alliance plans to provide registration, filing, and logistical support to the front-line relief teams.
On Friday, they did an investigation on needs once they join local rescue work in Malatya, such as the shortage of supplies during the emergency rescue phase and the basic life supplies that will be used during the transition to the resettlement phase. The next response approach will be determined after research. They went to Adana and Hatay on Saturday.
The foundation added that it would coordinate different sides to send more Chinese people to the headquarters and to connect local resources with China.
“We hope to learn more about international experiences through this rescue work and to contribute to the progress of humanitarian causes,” it said.
Cui Yazhou, a member of Amity’s rescue team, said that there were many touching moments on the way to the disaster-hit area.
“The staff of the airport in Wuhan opened the green channel for us to dispatch the bags and check in the luggage after knowing we were going to do rescue work in Türkiye. On the board, the attendants broadcasted blessings for us, wishing us a safe trip and safe return.
“When we entered the transfer lounge at the airport in Istanbul, locals immediately stood up from the chairs, put away their luggage, and gave us those lounges upon seeing us. They applauded for us, too.”
To their surprise, friendly locals in an affected area offered them hot meals because they knew that the team was there for them.
Cui stated that while the low temperatures and occasional wind and snow would make rescue work in Malatya and surrounding districts more difficult, the friendship and warmth he encountered along the way would sustain his fellows and him.
Amity Foundation, an independent Chinese social development organization, was founded in 1985 on the initiative of Chinese Christians to promote education, social service, health, community development, and civil society building.
Faith-Based Amity Foundation Joins Rescue Work in Türkiye
