NGOs Launch Multi-faith Fundraising For Turkiye And Syria

The NGOs comprised religious organisations from various faiths.

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Malaysians continue to lend a helping hand with donations to help the earthquake victims in Turkiye and Syria.

Earlier today (20 Feb), several non-governmental organisations (NGOs) pledged to raise more funds for the earthquake victims through multi-faith fundraising.

The fundraising campaign, called ‘Solidariti Gempa‘, aims to raise RM1 million.

Dalam Sidang Media MY Multi-Faith Solidarity Fund For Turkiye & Syria, saya kongsikan peristiwa kemarau dahsyat di Ireland sekitar 1845 yang menunjukkan pemurahnya Turkiye 🇹🇷serta warga dunia lain yang bersatu membantu rakyat Ireland 🇮🇪 yang ditimpa musibah.

(bebenang)

1/13 pic.twitter.com/xF5Sp0djNa
— Faisal Aziz ☕️🇲🇾 (@faisalazizfa) February 20, 2023

They include the Vajrayana Buddhist Council of Malaysia (VBCM), Allied Coordinating Council of Islamic NGOs Malaysia (ACCIN), Global Peace Malaysia (GPM), Malaysia Buddhist Consultative Council (MBCC) and Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (ABIM), among others.

GPM’s chief executive officer Ahmad Fahmi Samsuddin said as many as 37 NGOs are coming together for the effort.

GPM’s chief executive officer Ahmad Fahmi Samsuddin (centre) speaking at the launch of the multifaith fundraising. (Pix: ACCIN)

The initiative is driven by the urgency of the situation in Turkiye and Syria, in which over 42,000 people have died, and up to 7 million children have been impacted.

We hope to deliver much-needed items such as temporary shelters, blankets, clothing and other items so families can keep warm and safe.
GPM’s chief executive officer Ahmad Fahmi Samsuddin on helping the eathquake victims recover and regain normalcy in their shattered living.

He added that Malaysian NGOs in Syria and Turkiye work directly and with partners to ensure children get the necessary support.

The NGOs included GPM, which has just sent a humanitarian relief team to the affected areas.

Alhamdulillah melalui skuad misi bantuan ABIM, Global Peace Mission (GPM) Malaysia dan Malaysia for Syria (MFS) bersama Gabungan Prihatin Turkiye-Syria yang mana 30 NGO berada di dalamnya, kita sampaikan bantuan dari rakyat Malaysia kepada mereka. pic.twitter.com/oImDhP1KcX
— ABIMalaysia 🇲🇾🇵🇸 (@abimalaysia) February 17, 2023

Ahmad Fahmi said every bit of help counts as rescuers race against time to protect children and their families.

At the same time, ACCIN chief executive officer Jamal Shamsudin said the fundraising would run for two months.

The NGOs will carry out campaigns in their respective spheres of influence to collect as much funds for the humanitarian effort.
ACCIN chief executive officer Jamal Shamsudin on the NGO’s determination to help as many earthquake victims.

He also noted that Malaysian NGOs are working with government agencies such as the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), which has assisted in rescue efforts.

Malaysia has sent relief supplies, a mobile hospital, and specialised search and rescue crews to Turkiye to assist the country’s rescue efforts.

Mutual Support In Difficult Times

Also present at the press conference was Osman Aktas, Second Secretary to Turkiye’s ambassador to Malaysia, Emir Salim Yüksel.

He said Turkiye deeply appreciates Malaysia’s assistance and dispatch of its Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) team to assist in the rescue efforts.

He added that the Turkish government and people are “touched” by Malaysia’s goodwill and support.

It is also a testament to Turkiye and Malaysia’s friendly and cooperative relationship.

📌 Update dari tim peninjau Gabungan NGO Turkiye Syria

Alhamdulillah beberapa hari yang lepas tim peninjau sudah berada di Sanliurfa iaitu sempadan Syria untuk mengagihkan makanan buat mereka.

Alhamdulillah setakat ni dimaklumkan semua urusan berjalan lancar. pic.twitter.com/NEqTNKvW0p
— Muslim Volunteer Malaysia (@VolunteerMVM) February 19, 2023

At Least 41,020 Dead

At least 41,020 people died from the powerful earthquake disaster that shook southern Turkiye on 6 February, according to the country’s disaster management agency.

Turkiye’s Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (AFAD) states that 19,436 local and international search and rescue (SAR) team members are conducting SAR missions in disaster areas.

A total of 216,166 tents have been built in the earthquake zone.

The SAR mission in the earthquake zone in the affected regions has been terminated except in the regions of Kahramanmaras and Hatay, AFAD head Yunus Sezer told reporters.

Sezer said the SAR mission continued in almost 40 buildings while more than 6,000 containers had been prepared and more than 460,900 people had been evacuated.