Church's Humanitarian Efforts in Turkey

[smac97]

Here: In wake of devastating earthquakes, Bishop Waddell signs off on more Church humanitarian aid in Turkey

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Bishop W. Christopher Waddell, first counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, recently spent two days in earthquake-devastated Turkey, where he signed off on donations, reviewed recent humanitarian aid and learned about additional needs in the area.

At least 50,000 people in Turkey and Syria were killed when magnitude 7.8 and 7.5 earthquakes struck the region on Feb. 6. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints responded quickly, contributing over $13.5 million in aid by early April through 20 relief projects.

“As we drove through the city of Antakya, I was amazed at the level of destruction. I’ve only seen something like that in pictures from cities bombed during World War II. It was sobering,” Bishop Waddell told ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

I am grateful that Bishop Waddell is doing these things, and helping us understand these things.

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Antakya is the capital of the Hatay Province in the southern part of the country near the Syrian border. The city has also lost its infrastructure, including water, power and sewer lines.

“For all intents and purposes, the city of 400,000 people no longer exists,” Bishop Waddell said. “Most of the houses and factories have collapsed. Those homes and buildings that are still standing will need to be demolished.”

Northwest Syria had already been affected by conflicts in the region, causing around 2.8 million people to be internally displaced and dependent on humanitarian aid. The earthquakes exposed more people to the elements and left them needing help obtaining food, medical care and clean water.

During his time in Turkey on May 10 and 11, Bishop Waddell reviewed results of Church-provided humanitarian assistance and met with Turkish officials about additional support.

He also spent time visiting some temporary housing, including a tent camp and a container camp, and a mobile medical clinic in Payas and mobile clinic factory.

Bishop Waddell signed a letter of donation providing 500 housing containers for displaced people. The containers are each equipped with a toilet and shower, and provide families with more privacy than tents. Those staying in tents must use community toilets and showers.

The Church is also providing mobile medical clinics to the region. Three clinics are operational, and a fourth will be delivered soon.

Very good.

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Bishop Waddell also learned of a fifth location where a mobile medical clinic is needed, and that was approved upon his return home. It will be in a town called Oguzeli where the population has swelled to 70,000 from 10,000 as survivors move there seeking refuge.

Additionally, the Church is helping fund repairs for a hospital in Gaziantep that was damaged in the quakes.

While in Turkey, Bishop Waddell also met with Dr. Selami Kilic, Director General for EU and Foreign Affairs at the Turkish Ministry of Health, and the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority of Turkey, headquartered in Ankara.

Kilic expressed great appreciation for the Church’s assistance and said the Church has been among the most efficient organizations in its earthquake response, doing what it says it will do.

"{T}he Church has been among the most efficient organizations in its earthquake response, doing what it says it will do."

I am happy to hear this.

Thanks,

-Smac

[Pyreaux]

Yep, glad $13.5M was available to use on disasters rather than wherever the angry non-members wish it went.

[Teancum]

13 minutes ago, Pyreaux said:

Yep, glad $13.5M was available to use on disasters rather than wherever the angry non-members wish it went.

Given the church is sitting on $150 billion I am sure $13.5 million was not an issue to come up with.  Never the less I commend the church for this.  However  @smac97will tell me it is a backhanded compliment that I offer.

[Pyreaux]

I commend your ability to grudgingly give credit where its due, but -1 for letting me trigger you over what is not non-member business. 😝

[jkwilliams]

6 minutes ago, Pyreaux said:

I commend your ability to grudgingly give credit where its due, but -1 for letting me trigger you over what is not non-member business. 😝

Teancum and I are both members, last I checked. 

[Pyreaux]

45 minutes ago, jkwilliams said:

Teancum and I are both members, last I checked. 

I didn't say he was, and yet for simply saying it was not angry non-member business, he voted me down.

[jkwilliams]

Just now, Pyreaux said:

I didn't say he was, and yet for simply saying it was not angry non-member business, he voted me down.

It’s possible to disagree with the church without being angry. 

[Pyreaux]

1 minute ago, jkwilliams said:

It’s possible to disagree with the church without being angry. 

Yes, but certainly angry non-members will likely not have the best interests of the church at heart.

[Teancum]

21 hours ago, Pyreaux said:

I commend your ability to grudgingly give credit where its due, but -1 for letting me trigger you over what is not non-member business. 😝

Last i checked I am still a member of the church. Do try to keep up.

[Teancum]

20 hours ago, jkwilliams said:

It’s possible to disagree with the church without being angry. 

Being accused of being angry and being a bully seems to be in vogue by the true believers here against those who may have criticism.

[Calm]

36 minutes ago, Teancum said:

Being accused of being angry and being a bully seems to be in vogue by the true believers here against those who may have criticism.

I am a true believer and I know several others who view themselves as devout who don’t accuse others as being angry or a bully.  And I have consistently called out people who assume others as emotional as inappropriate mindreading,  By making it a general description of devout believers, are you not doing something similar?

[Pyreaux]

2 hours ago, Teancum said:

Last i checked I am still a member of the church. Do try to keep up.

I never ever said you were. Do read better with less presumption. My first post concerned "angry non-members", not you. The second post was about you, but for voting me down over the "angry non-member" post, the first post, not about you being an "angry non-member". The third post is a reply to jkwilliams bizarrely conflating "angry non-members" with everyone who disagrees with the church. If you chose to take it personally every time someone says something about "angry non-members" and you are not one, that's your logic problem. Everything is not always about you.

Edited May 27 by Pyreaux

[Hamilton Porter]

I'd like to visit Turkey.

[jkwilliams]

12 minutes ago, Pyreaux said:

I never ever said you were. Do read better with less presumption. My first post concerned "angry non-members", not you. The second post was about you, but for voting me down over the "angry non-member" post, the first post, not about you being an "angry non-member". The third post is a reply to jkwilliams bizarrely conflating "angry non-members" with everyone who disagrees with the church. If you chose to take it personally every time someone says something about "angry non-members" and you are not one, that's your logic problem. Everything is not always about you.

I did not conflate them. I simply said that you can disagree with the church without being angry. You seemed to be saying that only “angry ex-members” disagreed with the church stockpiling cash as they have. If you didn’t intend that, I’m sorry for misreading you. 

[CV75]

18 hours ago, Pyreaux said:

I never ever said you were. Do read better with less presumption. My first post concerned "angry non-members", not you. The second post was about you, but for voting me down over the "angry non-member" post, the first post, not about you being an "angry non-member". The third post is a reply to jkwilliams bizarrely conflating "angry non-members" with everyone who disagrees with the church. If you chose to take it personally every time someone says something about "angry non-members" and you are not one, that's your logic problem. Everything is not always about you.

Now watch both pleased non- and active members use negative connotations to describe the Church's financial management and defend them with every intent for semantic neutrality.

Edited May 28 by CV75

[Teancum]

On 5/27/2023 at 4:43 PM, Calm said:

I am a true believer and I know several others who view themselves as devout who don’t accuse others as being angry or a bully.  And I have consistently called out people who assume others as emotional as inappropriate mindreading,  By making it a general description of devout believers, are you not doing something similar?

Good point.  I should have said some true believers.

[Dario_M]

On 5/27/2023 at 11:16 PM, Hamilton Porter said:

I'd like to visit Turkey.

Never been there. My parents went there a long time ago. It uhm.. wasn't really an succes though. From what i have heard afterwards. 😑

[Tacenda]

I'm thrilled that the church is doing this for Turkey, I wonder if the church is aware of a dire situation in Haiti right now, it will need millions to stave off millions of deaths. 

Here's a website if anyone has the means to donate, I know I am. 

https://secure.wfpusa.org/donate/ABC-Haiti_REF_RES?ms=ABC-Haiti_REF_MEDIA_ABC-Haiti_RES

Edited June 2 by Tacenda

[Hamilton Porter]

12 hours ago, Dario_M said:

Never been there. My parents went there a long time ago. It uhm.. wasn't really an succes though. From what i have heard afterwards. 😑

Success in what way?

[Dario_M]

14 hours ago, Hamilton Porter said:

Success in what way?

No success at all. If you really wanna read the whole storie about what have happend i can send it to you via PM. But better not here you know.