Written by: Dr. Amal Abdel Aziz
Turkish artists participate in receiving communications from Anatolian donors.
Turkish channels launched a joint broadcast of the largest solidarity campaign in the history of the Republic in order to collect donations for the benefit of the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management (Turkish Red Crescent) to present them to those affected by the earthquake that struck the south of the country.
The campaign (Turkey is One Heart) managed to collect donations amounting to 1,150,146,528,000 Turkish liras (6.1 billion US dollars) in just seven hours.
The number of messages sent by Turkish citizens reached about 9 million (one message costs 50 Turkish lira).
213 TV channels and 562 radio stations in Turkey, Azerbaijan and Turkish Cyprus participated in the joint broadcast.
Celebrities of art, acting, sports, businessmen and bloggers participated via live broadcast to collect huge donations for those affected by the devastating earthquake.
Turkish screen stars and celebrities, through these channels, called on their audience to donate to the Turkish Disaster Management Agency “AFAD” and the Turkish Red Crescent for the aid campaign, which started at 17:00 GMT.
It is worth noting that after every natural disaster, whether it was caused by earthquakes, fires or torrents, the stars of Turkey used to show solidarity and solidarity quickly and directly.
The spirit of unity and solidarity of the Turkish people, including celebrities and individuals, also helps by providing support to the needy in times of disasters, and continues beyond that by providing assistance during recovery, as similar financial and in-kind support campaigns are launched to assist the state in construction and reconstruction work.
The joint broadcast brought together Turkey’s stars and celebrities, as well as prominent cultural, artistic, commercial and sports figures to support the earthquake victims.
Turkish President (Recep Tayyip Erdogan) and Turkish party leaders also joined the live broadcast, along with dozens of companies, businessmen and banks in Turkey in the donation race.
The Turkish president said during a telephone conversation with the organizers of the campaign that his country aims to build new and safe buildings within one year in place of every building destroyed in the double earthquake.
Regarding the (Turkey is one heart) campaign, he added: Our people will show their generosity again by breaking a record in donating to those affected by the earthquake.
Erdogan announced that he and members of the Council of Ministers participated in collecting 136 million and 589 thousand liras for the earthquake victims.
And he continued, saying: As of the beginning of next March, we will lay the foundation stone for building 30,000 housing units, and thus we will have begun the reconstruction of important areas.
(Erdogan) indicated that all the sums that will be collected during the campaign will be spent for those affected by the earthquake.
As for the international personalities who participated in the campaign:
The Prime Minister of Albania (Edi Rama) joined the live broadcast and supported the campaign with one million euros.
Rama stressed that Albania did not forget the stand of Turkey and its President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with his country when a 6.4-magnitude earthquake hit it in 2019, killing 51 people.
He added, “We are ready to harness our capabilities to support the Turkish people, and I announce on behalf of the Albanian people a donation of one million euros to the earthquake victims.”
He said, I know that this amount is not large and that larger sums are needed, but this is what is available in our hands at the present time, and I believe that the most important thing is to do what is available.
The President of Turkish Cyprus (Ersin Tatar) also joined the live broadcast, announcing his donation of three months of his salary to the benefit of the earthquake victims.
Party leaders and political figures in Turkey:
The Speaker of the Turkish Parliament (Mustafa Sentop) announced his donation of four months’ salary for the benefit of those affected by the earthquake.
The leader of the Republican People’s Party (Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu), the leader of the Good Party (Miral Akşener), the leader of the “Deva” Party (Ali Babacan) and the leader of the Victory Party (Umit Ozdag) also joined the broadcast and announced their donation of a salary (one month) to those affected.
As for the leader of the Great Union Party (Mustafa Dastji), he announced a one-month salary, while the leader of the Democratic Party (Gultekin Uysal) said that he donated a three-month salary.
The leader of the Balad Party (Muharram Ince) announced his donation of a month’s salary, while the former Turkish Finance Minister (Muhammad Shamsak) donated a full year’s salary for the benefit of those affected.
Turkish banks and defense industries take part in the campaign:
The Central Bank of Turkey announced its donation of 30 billion Turkish liras, the “Ziraat” Bank with 20 billion Turkish liras, the “Waqf” Bank with 12 billion Turkish liras, and the “Khalk” Bank with 7 billion Turkish liras.
Ziraat Katlim Bank and Vakif Katlim announced that they would each donate 1 billion Turkish liras for the benefit of those affected.
The Savings Deposit Insurance Fund “TMSF” announced a donation of 2 billion Turkish liras, while the Istanbul Stock Exchange Group said it was donating 2 billion Turkish liras.
The companies affiliated to the Presidency of Defense Industries also announced a donation of 3 billion and 600 million Turkish liras, while Baykar announced a donation of 2 billion Turkish liras.
While the Security Directorate in Istanbul announced a donation of 5 million liras for the benefit of the earthquake victims.
Turkish Airlines announced a donation of 2 billion liras, and the Social Security Corporation with 2 billion liras.
Telecom companies “Turkcell” donated 3 billion Turkish liras and “Turk Telekom” 2 billion Turkish liras.
Cengiz Construction, Energy and Mining Company announced a donation of 3 billion Turkish liras, while Kalyon Group and Turquoise Media announced a donation of 700 million Turkish liras.
At the end of the unified historical broadcast that the Turkish channels set up to collect donations with the contribution of celebrities to help the areas affected by the earthquake, the total donations were counted: (115 billion, 146 million, and 528 thousand Turkish liras).
We thank everyone who helped and participated in this campaign. You are the best soldiers of the homeland, and you have proven your love for your beloved homeland. All thanks, appreciation and respect for your beautiful hearts.