Inside Lighting shared an open letter sent to the lighting community from Mert Erdogan, President of Heper USA in response to the recent earthquake in Turkey and Syria.
Dear Lighting Community,
As you might already be aware, on February 6th, two earthquakes of magnitudes 7.7 and 7.5 struck southern Turkiye and Northern Syria. The earthquakes caused widespread destruction, resulting in a devastating loss of life with over 34,000 people reported dead, and leaving millions of people homeless. The affected populations are now facing harsh weather conditions, especially during the cold winter nights when temperatures are constantly below negative degrees and cause hypothermia. The significant damage to medical facilities, hospitals, airports, and main roads, made the situation even worse for aid to reach those in need.
In the aftermath of the earthquake, thousands of individuals are facing a dire lack of access to necessities such as water, food, shelter, and medicine. This situation was compounded by the extreme weather conditions they were exposed to. Urgent action is required to help these traumatized survivors by relocating them from the affected areas and supporting them. Many families have to relocate to closer cities while their loved ones and family members are still under the rubble and waiting for crucial aid to reach them.
We have faced the worst quake in our history, and it will take many years to rebuild people’s lives affected by this tragedy. That is why it is also significant to consider the future of education in those areas and support children in the long run. As a result of these thoughts, we are taking action on both urgent aids and future in-needs.
We ask the lighting design community in the US for their support to address the humanitarian crisis in southern Turkey and Northern Syria. A donation campaign has been established in partnership with Turkish Philanthropy Funds, a non-government organization working in collaboration with government agencies, and UNICEF, which provides humanitarian aid to children worldwide. As a small group of Turkish lighting designers based in the US, we are also reaching out to other lighting communities to raise awareness of this dire situation in the region and consider a donation through Turkish Philanthropy Funds and UNICEF to help people in need.
Turkish Philanthropy Funds:
Turkish Philanthropy Funds (TPF) is the leading U.S. community foundation for high-impact social investments dedicated to Turkish and Turkish-American communities.
https://donate.tpfund.org/team/481549UNICEF:
United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund is responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide.
https://www.unicefusa.org/stories/unicef-responding-after-massive-earthquake-syria-and-turk%20ey/40803?form=FUNNPGQXEGQCYDD (The Association for Supporting Contemporary Life):
CYDD has been operating throughout Turkey with the aim of reaching modern people and modern society through modern education.
https://www.cydd.org.tr/pages/i-want-to-donate-34/TEV:
Turkish Education Foundation to support the education of young people.
https://donation.tev.org.tr/general-donation
We would greatly appreciate hearing your ideas on how we can work together to secure the necessary support to address this humanitarian crisis.
Sincerely,
Turkish Lighting Designers in the US
Tagged with charity