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Turkey: Erzurum Earthquake - Information Bulletin n° 1

Pays
Türkiye
Sources
IFRC
Date de publication

The Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. It is the world's largest humanitarian organization and its millions of volunteers are active in over 181 countries.
In Brief

This Bulletin No. 1/2004 is being issued for information only. The Federation is not seeking funding or other assistance from donors for this operation at this time. Any change in this will be detailed in a later bulletin.

For further information specifically related to this operation please contact:

  • Turkish Red Crescent Disaster Operation Centre (AFOM): phone: 90 312 245 45 00
  • Federation delegation in Turkey: Carl Naucler, head of regional delegation or and Kelemu Yitbarek regional disaster preparedness delegate, email: ifrctr06@ifrc.org or ifrctr36@ifrc.org phone: 90 312 441 42 92; fax: 90 312 441 38 66
  • Geneva secretariat: regional officer Sylvie Chevalley, email: Sylvie.chevalley@ifrc.org phone: 41 22 730 4276.

All International Federation assistance seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct and is committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable. For support to or for further information concerning Federation programmes or operations in this or other countries, or for a full description of the national society profile, please access the Federation's website at http://www.ifrc.org

The Situation

A moderate earthquake, measuring at least 5.1. on the Richter scale, hit the eastern province of Turkey on Thursday, 25 March 2004, killing at least nine people and severely injuring another 32. The information was confirmed by the Disaster Operation Centre (or AFOM as it is called in Turkish) of the Turkish Red Crescent Society. The epicenter of the earthquake was a township of Cat, 30 km from the city centre of Erzurum. The earthquake caused damage in surrounding villages of Buyukgecit, Kucukgecit, Karabiyik and Kandilli in Askale township of the province. According to the preliminary information provided by the government crisis centre, which was set up immediately after the disaster, some 4,000 people living in these four villages were affected. A total of 45 homes collapsed while many others were heavily damaged. The earthquake caused panic across the province. Authorities moved people who were made homeless to schools and sports centres around the province.

Red Cross and Red Crescent action

Turkish Red Crescent responded immediately by dispatching a disaster response team from the surrounding branches of Erzurum, Erzincan and Bingol. They rushed in emergency relief items including: 195 tents, 1,500 blankets, 1,000 food packages (another 70 food parcels), 200 kitchen sets and 15,750 bottled water. A health team of a doctor and two nurses has been on site with an ambulance to assist people in need. The teams are still there. The headquarters of the Red Crescent has also sent to the earthquake area a disaster response coordinator and a communication officer in response to requests from the media.

The regional delegation of the International Federation is in constant contact with colleagues at the national society. For the time being no international support has been requested. However, the Federation will continue to monitor the situation.

All International Federation Operations seek to adhere to the Code of Conduct and are committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response (SPHERE Project) in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable. For support to or for further information concerning Federation operations in this or other countries, please access the Federation website at http://www.ifrc.org For longer-term programmes, please refer to the Federation's Annual Appeal.