23 February 2023 | Image: Salaam Foundation
Salaam Foundation has been among the South African organisations assisting victims of the tragic Turkiye and Syrian earthquakes.
We have witnessed the devastation from the hardest hit regions, provided emergency food and immediate assistance to the value of R100 000 in the initial rescue periods and we have used our presence on the ground to create media awareness of the situation to a broader South African audience.
SF director, Azhar Vadi, reporting from the the destroyed regions.
Our team in South Africa, led by one of our directors, Fatima Sookharia, launched the countrywide #LemonAid2 campaign. The support from Makhado to Gqeberha and from Durban to Cape Town and all the other venues in between, has been phenomenal. The effort has even gained the praise and attention of the Turkish Embassy in South Africa who were particularly pleased at the uniqueness of the campaign and that children were at the heart of it all.
Zaheer Pahad, a director of Salaam Foundation at a #LemonAid2 stall in Lenasia.
So what is the way forward from here?
Salaam Foundation has identified three products that are in short supply or unavailable in Turkiye for purchase. They will therefore be sent from South Africa.
- 100 x disaster relief tents to the value of R1.1 million.
- 30 Generators to the value of R250 000.
- 1000 Sleeping bags and back packs to the value of R150 000.
- R50 000 directly to the Turkish Embassy for current relief work.
SF director, Fatima Sookharia, meeting Turkish Ambassador to SA, HE Aysegul Kandas.
The total Phase 1 Aid Package is valued at R1 650 000, Alhamduillah. We have also partnered with Saaberie Chisty, a well known Lenasia based welfare organisation, who have added a further 30 tents to the consignment. As soon as the items are manufactured, logistical arrangements will be made to transport the consignment across.
This campaign forms part of an extended recovery programme that will take anything between 6 months to a 1 year to complete. While this is our first contribution, we hope to be able to assist with more items as per the requirement of NGO’s on the ground.
Further updates will be posted on our website, www.salaamfoundation.com and our social media accounts.
To continue donating online click here or directly:
Salaam Foundation, FNB, 62 66 9147 665, Branch 250737, Ref: your name + quake (zakat/lillah/sadaqah).
