One year since the earthquake in Turkey

First the discotheque turned into an emergency dormitory, then the Aina village in Antioch, prefabricated houses in Latakia in Syria, thousands and thousands of food parcels, health care including specialized care, support for those still living in tents.

The one that shook Turkey's Antioch province and the northernmost part of Syria exactly a year ago was one of the most violent earthquakes (magnitude 7.7) ever recorded in the world. The combination of two quakes within a very short time of each other, however, make it the most destructive ever recorded. As evidenced by the estimated 57,000 dead (hundreds of bodies have not yet been recovered under the piles of rubble).

The consequence of the double quake was the almost widespread collapse of all kinds of buildings over an area a hundred kilometers in diameter, and major damage throughout the region. Specchio dei tempi took immediate action by launching a subscription that raised 526,391 euros.

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What has been done

The very first phase of the intervention aimed to find shelter for about 500 displaced people in Defne, a suburb of Antioch, even in view of the harsh winter temperatures. Among the very few artifacts that remained intact was a discotheque-wedding hall that, due to its reinforced concrete construction and single-story development, had withstood the tremors. It was rented out and turned into a dormitory for evacuees and a base of operations for the supply of medicine, clothing, food and comfort supplies. At the same time, a canteen was opened, and shortly thereafter, an outdoor facility used as an after-school/lunchroom was built. Also in an emergency, a project was identified for the construction of prefabricated buildings in neighboring Syria, near the city of Latakia: here, given the restrictions placed by the local government on the intervention of Western entities, it was decided to operate through the Swiss NGO Terres des Hommes.

The solution of the former Antioch discotheque could not be permanent, and so, in agreement with the Turkish government, an earthquake village was built in the hills west of the old town. Sixty-five container-houses each capable of housing one family were built here. Today there are currently more than 250 guests in the village (which the people wanted to call “Aina,” which means Mirror in Turkish, in gratitude for the foundation's efforts). A canteen has also been built here, a field kitchen installed and a food warehouse opened, as well as an outpatient clinic for medical and dental examinations and treatment.

Alongside the management of the village Aina has also developed an activity to support those who still have no roof: “The cold and rain make life dramatic for those who still live in tents,” explains Josuè Jimenez, who leads the Remar volunteers on behalf of Mirror of the Times, "especially because the water turns the base of the tents into mud. It is therefore necessary to make some kind of light flooring that will act as an effective cavity with the outside. This is in anticipation that everyone can have a roof, precarious as long as you want but at least able to protect from the rain."

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USEFUL INFORMATION FOR DONATION

If you would like your donation to be tax-relevant for the deduction, enter your personal information and a valid email to obtain a receipt.

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For payment, you can use PayPal, Satispay or a credit card by entering the name of the project as the reason for payment. Every contribution, large or small, is essential to support the elderly in Piedmont and Liguria and ensure a better life for them.

If you are a public entity, a third sector entity or an elderly person in need and would like more information to access the project, you can email info@specchiodeitempi.org or call 011- 6568376