AMURT & AMURTEL has relief teams in Turkey responding to the recent earthquakes.
The teams in Turkey provided psychological first aid courses, restocked medical clinics and deliveed pinpointed non-food supplies like tents, blankets, clothes, hygiene items, and toys. Apart from goods received from abroad, the teams were able to procure most items locally at favorable prices.
AMURT & AMURTEL did a joint assessment in Kahramanmaraş with local officials. In Kahramanmaras stadium, in the firsst month there were 5,000 of the most vulnerable earthquake victims temporarily staying in tents.
Large steel frame tents locally manufactured were distributed and set up on-site in remote villages.
Based on precise requests from the authorities of the tent city within the Kahramamaras stadium, AMURT & AMURTEL delivers hygiene items and clothing for the earthquake survivors sheltered there, such as liquid hand soap, shampoo, undergarments, socks, diapers and sanitary pads.
Turkish clinics in Kahramanmaraş receive equipment and medicine they have run out of. This doctor jumped up in excitement when presented with a breathing assistance device, which he was very much in need of.
The last mile: from volunteer networks pinpointed and much-needed tents and bedding are distributed by AMURT & AMURTEL volunteers in isolated villages.
AMURTEL psychologist is connecting with a group of children after one of them told how she cannot sleep because she is scared of another earthquake. She gave them her warm attention, providing factual information, but also validating their feelings, and then teaching them how to replace the stressful thoughts and feelings with good ones, with some very simple visualisations and games.
A child confided to the psychologist that she is scared at night and cannot sleep, wondering if another earthquake will happen again. As the psychologist counseled the girl, a group of children gathered to also listen. Then Melinda asked the AMURTEL education specialist to lead them through some yoga games to release stress and feel better. Here we are breathing like balloons.
AMURT volunteer plays with children after a distribution of toys in camp for Internally Displaced People in Kahramanmaraş Turkiye
AMURTEL trained 32 psychologists in Adana in Emergency Psychology and Psychological First Aid. After the training, several offered to volunteer in the emergency and put their psychological skills to use.
Teachers in Turkiye attend a training by AMURT & AMURTEL to preapre them and their students to set up a routine and restart learning.