“The needs on site are extremely high. There are currently 2,300 dead and 10,000 injured, thousands of buildings have been destroyed. Our colleagues from the Turkish Red Crescent, the Syrian Red Crescent and the International Red Cross could use all the help at the moment,” says Sofie De Jaeger, International Cooperation Manager of Belgian Red Cross-Flanders.
The money will be used to meet the first acute needs. This includes food, water, hygiene kits and medical aid, but also tents, beds, sleeping bags and blankets.
The amount is either used via partner associations in the Red Cross network – such as the Germans, Norwegians or Danes – or via the International Federation of the Red Cross. “The help of the Flemish people is therefore also more than welcome, so that our colleagues from the various national and international Red Cross Societies can continue to offer their humanitarian support. After all, it is now clear that local needs will remain high for a long time to come,” says De Jaeger.
Anyone wishing to contribute can do so via rodekruis.be/aardbeving or the Belgian Red Cross-Flanders account number BE93 0000 0065 6667 stating “earthquake”.