Day: February 11, 2023

Ever since Monday’s powerful quakes, social media in Türkiye has been bursting with calls for help and messages of solidarity for the millions impacted in the country’s southern parts.

Still, one particular photo has garnered attention like no other, becoming a symbol of the international solidarity that has poured out in the wake of the devastating disaster, which has now claimed more than 20,200 lives in 10 southern Turkish provinces.

That photo is of a car that has clearly seen better days, with a Turkish flag hoisted on it, loaded to the brim with relief supplies.

The driver of the vehicle, a model manufactured in 1981, was Sarvar Bashirli, an Azerbaijani citizen who has inadvertently inspired an entire legion of volunteers to do their bit for the earthquake victims in Türkiye.

The photo has been viral on social media, drawing hundreds of thousands of likes and messages of praise.

Bashirli’s car had several mattresses stacked on the roof as boxes and bags of other items poked out from the open trunk.

A stranger snapped the photo as Bashirli headed to a donation center in the Azerbaijani capital Baku.

“These were warm clothes and beds that I had to give. That’s what I can do. My friends and relatives asked me to deliver them, so I collected it all and went to the center,” he told Anadolu.

“For us, it is our duty to support the people of Türkiye. We (Azerbaijan and Türkiye) are two states, but one nation. We are only doing what is necessary. We are doing it and we will continue to do so,” he said.

Despite their own economic hardships, Bashirli and his brother are adamant on helping people in Türkiye, a drive that stems partially from their own past as they were among the thousands displaced from their homeland in Azerbaijan’s Karabakh region.

Their donations included items that came from relatives who themselves were forced out of Lachin, an Azerbaijani region that was illegally occupied by Armenia for nearly three decades.

“My car may be old, but our hearts are big. We must help our brotherly nation,” the 33-year-old said.

His cousin, Imamverdi Bashirli, shared the sentiments: “We are doing, and will keep doing, whatever we can for Türkiye. All Azerbaijani people are with Türkiye.”

Bashirli’s grandmother, Mahizer Memmedova, said she could not hold back her tears after seeing images of the destruction in Türkiye.

“I cried a lot when I saw it on television. My grandson told me that those people are out in the cold, so I told him to take all my blankets to them,” she said.

After seeing his heroic efforts, a group of Turkish and Azerbaijani businesspeople has decided to send Bashirli to Türkiye to help out in relief operations.

Bashirli’s actions aptly demonstrate how every Azerbaijani feels about Türkiye, said Huseyin Buyukfirat, who heads the Turkish-Azerbaijan Businessmen and Industrialists Association.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Leaders and senior politicians from Western Balkan nations signed condolence books Friday at Turkish embassies in their respective capitals to honor earthquake victims in Türkiye.

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic signed the condolence book after being greeted by Turkish Ambassador to Belgrade, Hami Aksoy.

"The Republic of Serbia and its people share the pain and sorrow of the friendly Turkish people. We are ready to provide the necessary assistance,'' wrote Brnabic.

Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic also visited the embassy and signed.

Officials from the Bosniak National Council (BNV), a representative body of the Bosniak national minority in Serbia, signed the book at the Novi Pazar Consulate General.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjartt signed the book in Budapest.

Montenegrin Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic signed in Podgorica.

"The people of Montenegro stand by the friendly country Türkiye. Türkiye is more than a friend to us,'' he wrote.

Bosnia and Herzegovina's Foreign Minister Elmedin Konakovic signed in Sarajevo and conveyed patience to the survivors.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and President Vjosa Osmani visited the Pristina Embassy.

"We are with you and we will do much more in the days to come,'' said Kurti.

Albanian Foreign Minister Olta Xhacka, said his country offered aid to Türkiye from the very first moments and would continue to do so.

Meanwhile, absentee funeral prayers were held for victims in the region with many attending and donations collected during prayers at mosques.

Numerous charity organizations in the Balkans collected a large amount of aid for Türkiye and its victims.

People left flowers in front of the Turkish Embassy in Sarajevo to honor the victims.

Bosnia and Herzegovina sent 140 people to assist Türkiye. Albania sent 53; Serbia 45; Croatia 40; Kosovo 30 and 15 from Montenegro.

More than 20,300 people in Türkiye were killed and over 80,000 injured after the two strong quakes hit the southern region early Monday, according to the latest figures.

The 7.7- and 7.6-magnitude earthquakes, centered in Türkiye's Kahramanmaras province, have affected 13 million people across 10 Turkish provinces, including Adana, Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye and Sanliurfa.

In neighboring Syria, the death toll has climbed above 3,300, with more than 5,200 wounded.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti paid a condolence visit Friday to the Turkish Military Representative of the NATO peacekeeping force in Kosovo after deadly earthquakes struck Türkiye earlier this week.

Kurti was welcomed by Col. Recai Yilmaz, head of the Turkish Representation Delegation, at the Sultan Murat Barracks in the southern city of Prizren where Turkish soldiers are stationed.

Kurti signed a condolence book and reiterated that Kosovo will provide all necessary assistance to victims in Türkiye.

"Another group of national guards will join the Kosovo Security Force team in Türkiye this evening for the search and rescue operations," according to a statement from Kurti's office.

The government sent the Kosovo Security Force Unit with 36 soldiers to Türkiye on Feb. 6 to support the international humanitarian aid operation and six additional personnel from the Kosovo Search and Rescue Association joined forces.

President Vjosa Osmani declared a national mourning on Feb. 8.

Various NGOs in municipalities such as Prizren, Pristina and Mamusha continue to work uninterruptedly to deliver aid to victims through campaigns they have organized.

The numbers have soared to at least 20,213 people killed and 80,052 injured by the two strong earthquakes that jolted southern Türkiye on Monday, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said Friday.

The 7.7-and 7.6-magnitude earthquakes, centered in the Kahramanmaras province, affected more than 13 million people across 10 provinces, also including Adana, Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye and Sanliurfa.

Several countries in the region, including Syria and Lebanon, also felt the tremors that struck Türkiye in the space of less than 10 hours.

Source: Anadolu Agency