Turkey is Grieving

Last week, I was checking out a friend on facebook and noticed her profile pic (a small icon) was all black.  When I clicked on it, I found a black picture, with a white flower and a red ladybug.  Being the nosy-body that I am, I let her know that she needed to adjust her small icon, because it was all black.  Her response, “It is black because Turkey is grieving.”

At the time, Turkey was grieving the loss of 24 young soldiers who were killed on October 20th by PKK terrorists.   You can read about it here, http://www.todayszaman.com/newsDetail_getNewsById.action?load=detay&newsId=260459&link=260459 and here, http://www.worldbulletin.net/?aType=haberYazdir&ArticleID=80496&tip=.

Still grieving that loss, towns and cities on Turkey’s eastern border suffered a major earthquake on Sunday, October 23rd.  At last count, the death toll was 279 with hundreds missing.  http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/24/us-turkey-quake-idUSTRE79M10Z20111024.

How you can help?  You can make a donation directly to the Turkish Red Crescent (Turkey’s version of the Red Cross.)  http://www.kizilay.org.tr/english/index.php  The website is in Turkish and English.

If you are in Ankara, I am told that you can make donations directly at various banks with the following bank account numbers.  I have not confirmed this information. So please check with the bank before making your donation.  (I know it must seem odd to American readers to see bank account numbers posted.  This is the way it’s done here – bank transfers, no checks.)

Hesap adı: Van Depremi İnsani Yardım Hesabı
T.C. Ziraat Bankası Aşağı Ayrancı Şubesi Ankara
TL hesabı        : TR600001000820555555555031
ABD Doları hesabı: TR330001000820555555555032
Avro hesabı      : TR060001000820555555555033

Vakıflar Bankası A.O. Finansmarket Şubesi Ankara
TL hesabı        : TR620001500158007299317599
ABD Doları hesabı: TR430001500158048013094088
Avro hesabı      : TR320001500158048013094092

Halk Bankası Bakanlıklar Şubesi Ankara
TL hesabı        : TR190001200940800005000015
ABD Doları hesabı: TR210001200940800058000100
Avro hesabı      : TR910001200940800058000101

Finally, another friend sent this advice for all of those in Turkey.  “If you want to send stuff to Van (they are epecially asking for: nappies, baby food, sanitary towels, blankets and heaters) you can go into any of the cargo company offices and they will take them for free. Likewise coaches headed that way will also take donations, drop off at the main bus station.”

After the earthquake, I changed my Facebook profile pic too.

May Turkey find peace.

Update:  Please check comments for more suggestions to help.