Helaba donates 30,000 euros to help victims of Turkey-Syria earthquake

Helaba Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen is donating 30,000 euros to the emergency aid alliance "Aktionsbündnis Katastrophenhilfe" to support those affected by the Turkey-Syria earthquake. "We are horrified by the number of casualties, which continues to grow by the day, as well as the sheer magnitude of the destruction," commented Helaba's Executive Board. "The humanitarian crisis in the areas struck by the earthquake is deteriorating rapidly and the people are in urgent need of help. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and everyone who has lost their livelihoods, as well as with our Turkish and Syrian members of staff concerned about the safety and well-being of their relatives."

Whenever major disasters in the world occur, four aid organisations – Caritas International, the German Red Cross, Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe and UNICEF Germany – make a joint appeal for donations as "Aktionsbündnis Katastrophenhilfe". This alliance and its partners are currently providing immediate emergency aid with teams already on the ground or on the way to assess the extent of the aid relief needed. Providing drinking water and food to the communities affected by the earthquake is the most urgent priority. Since scores of people have lost their homes and temperatures in the region are below ten degrees Celsius, especially at night, volunteers are distributing tents, blankets and tarpaulins. The relief organisations and their partners are also providing medical assistance.