MRCS launches 'appeal' fund to help Turkey, Syria
SHAH ALAM - In efforts to extend more assistance to earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria, the Malaysian Red Crescent (MRCS) aims to raise RM1.5 million in two weeks.
The MRCS, which is an active component of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and one of 192 Red Cross and Red Crescent national societies, expressed their concerns over the situation and thus launched the 'MRCS Appeal' fund in response to the dire situation in both Turkey and Syria.
The funding will help to provide monetary assistance and essential items, such as household kits, heaters, sleeping bags, bed chairs, hygiene supplies including towels and blankets.
The MRCS also urged the public, private sectors, and organisations to support their effort by donating generously.
The MRCS appeal for the Turkey and Syria earthquake is expected to raise at least RM1.5 million within two weeks.
The MRCS national chairman, Tan Sri Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz Almarhum Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah, is saddened by the situation faced by the people of Turkey and Syria, caused by the natural disaster which killed thousands of people.
She also urged everyone to step up and contribute to saving lives.
"The Malaysian Red Crescent is deeply saddened by the devastation of the recent earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria on Feb 6. We must act fast and act immediately to help save lives and to support those in dire need of assistance.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the affected communities who have lost their loved ones, the injured, and those whose homes have been completely destroyed," she said.
The number of people who died in powerful earthquakes in southern Turkey has surpassed 12,000 today.
Turkey's disaster management agency, AFAD, said 12,391 people were killed and 62,914 others were injured in Monday’s quakes centred in Kahramanmaras province, Anadolu Agency reported.
Other provinces in southern and eastern Turkey that were affected by the quakes are Gaziantep, Hatay, Osmaniye, Adiyaman, Malatya, Sanliurfa, Adana, Diyarbakir, and Kilis.
More than 6,000 buildings collapsed due to the 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes that occurred in the space of less than 10 hours.
