Donate to Turkey
We are doing everything we can to help the victims of the terrible earthquake in Turkey. There is a great need for sanitation and shelter. Our colleague Rüstü helped on the spot. His stories are poignant and convinced us to start this campaign.
Will you also help and supplement our donation? Together with Rüstü, we ensure that the entire amount goes to local initiatives that provide aid in the disaster area.
Rüstü's personal story
Rüstü recounts what he experienced on the spot:
"On Monday, February 6, I, like many, woke up to the terrible news from Turkey. A disaster of such magnitude and with so many victims and damage, I had never heard of that before. I couldn't believe my eyes and was sure that I personally wanted to help pull people out of the rubble.
At Delta Team I work as a safety expert, but originally I am ex-military and I have followed a search and rescue training. Through my network, together with a former colleague, I immediately contacted a rescue brigade. The commander of the rescue brigade was very enthusiastic, but also clear: "Men, the damage here is of unprecedented magnitude, your efforts are on your own responsibility and on your own resources. There is no transport and the roads are closed, if you can save yourself, you are welcome. Good luck". Not a word more or less and he hung up.
The journey
Together with my buddy we packed our backpacks and we flew directly from Düsseldorf airport to Kayseri. From there we took the bus to Adana. There we saw for the first time the large number of damaged and collapsed buildings and the numerous emergency services. It was only then that we really started to realize the magnitude.
By now it was 00:00 and we found a packed bus to go to Iskenderun. Once there, it looked like a war zone: the bus station no longer existed, roads were closed due to collapsed buildings and there were people everywhere who had lit a fire to warm up (by now it was -5 degrees). We still had 66 km to go, the last and hardest part. There was nothing driving so we had to hitch a ride with others three times to cover a mountainous area of 50km.
We drove right through villages and small towns. Everywhere people lay under the rubble hoping to be rescued. It looked like a ghost town, no one in sight, only people under the rubble.
The last part we walked with our luggage to the camp of the rescue brigade. There we were warmly welcomed by the commander. He advised us to eat something and go to sleep. But, despite the long journey, we did not want this and indicated that we could be deployed immediately.
The rescue work
In the city center of Antakya, I couldn't believe my eyes: there was no building left standing, everything had collapsed. In one fell swoop, people had lost their lives, loved ones, homes and possessions. Nothing at all. Survivors waited hopelessly next to the rubble for help. There were corpses everywhere, from young to old.
We started in two groups to rescue people and also to make contact with the residents and victims as interpreters. There were far more victims than emergency workers present, which meant that the emergency services had to prioritise. As a team, we tried to save people's lives and fortunately we did. But we wanted to help everyone and unfortunately that was not possible. I have personally had to inform survivors that their loved ones had died. Emotions were running very high, including mine...
Shelter is the most important thing now
I am now back in the Netherlands. Two weeks have passed and the earthquakes continue. International emergency services have been partially withdrawn and people have to survive in the cold. The main needs for the survivors are currently shelter in the form of a container house or a tent and sanitary facilities. That's why I'm trying to raise help."
