In response to the devastation caused by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria, volunteers from the two Rotary Clubs in Farnham were out on the town’s streets over two weekends collecting to provide support for those who have survived this disaster.
Nearly 50,000 have died, thousands are wounded and at least a million are homeless, with more than 164,000 buildings collapsed or so damaged that they need to be demolished.
In addition, a large winter storm hampered rescue efforts, dropping snow on the ruins with the plummeting temperature posing a risk of hypothermia, especially for those trapped under rubble.
Bad enough to lose your family and friends, but your home as well with so many not knowing what the future will bring.
The response from the people of Farnham was overwhelming – in total £4,000 was raised, which with GiftAid, will reach about £5,000. These funds will go to the Disaster Emergency Fund and to Shelter Box.
And it is not just Rotary in Farnham that is helping. The Rotary family in Turkey has done a tremendous amount to date to help in terms of relief aid, and more will follow:
- Almost 100 articulated lorries of emergency supplies have been sent to the disaster regions by members of our Rotary, Rotaract, Interact and Rotakids clubs in Turkey. Supplies include generators, tents, winter clothes, food, water and much more, along with excavators and similar construction vehicles to assist rescue teams.
- Four Rotary fully-operational centres (Adana, Osmaniye, Iskenderun and Gaziantep) have been created – with tent cities in Iskenderun and a second one to be set up in Adiyaman. Through all of this, relief and medical aid in and around these cities is being provided with liaison with the local municipality.
We all have to do what we can to help and if anyone has not yet made a donation and would like to, please visit one or other of the Rotary Farnham websites at rotaryfarnham.co.uk or www.farnhamweyside.org.uk
If you would like more information about your local Rotary, contact the secretary of Rotary Club of Farnham by emailing [email protected] and/or the secretary of the Rotary Club of Farnham Weyside by emailing [email protected]