Filipino community launches donation drive in Turkey

Members of the Filipino community in Turkey launched a donation drive following the powerful earthquake that struck the country and Syria on Monday.

In Dano Tingcungco’s report on “24 Oras” on Wednesday, the "Pinoy in Ankara Community" said they are accepting donations for the quake victims.

“Nagko-collect kami ng used clothes at winter clothes... Ang hinihiling nila is 'yung mga pagkain na madaling iluto,” Pinoy in Ankara Community Treasurer Ghie Gonzales said.

(We collect used clothes and winter clothes. What they are asking for are food items that are easy to cook.)

Those who want to donate may reach out through their official Facebook page.

The death toll from the 7.8 magnitude quake has reached more than 8,000 in Turkey — the epicenter of the tremors — and more than 20,000 in Syria.

Search and retrieval operations in both countries continue with children and even a newborn baby rescued in Afrin and Jandarin in Syria.

For its part, the Philippines is sending teams to the Middle Eastern countries composed of doctors, emergency medical officers, military, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, and Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority personnel to help in rescue operations and extend other humanitarian efforts.

They are set to fly at 10 p.m. and will be distributing medicine, medical kits, steel cutter machines, water filtration devices, and relief goods to Turkey.

“Ang pagtulong sa ibang bansa, matagal nang ginagawa ng ating bansa. Last time nagkaroon ng tsunami at earthquake sa Indonesia nagpadala rin tayo ng tulong,” said Office of Civil Defense Joint Information Head Diego Mariano.

(We’ve been extending relief to other countries. We did it in Indonesia when an earthquake and tsunami hit there.)

The Philippine Embassy in Turkey has received reports of distressed Filipinos but said it had already taken action to extend help to the confirmed cases. —Sundy Locus/ VAL, GMA Integrated News