Citizens, Companies, NGOs & Government together – Finland is helping Türkiye
The aid efforts were launched quickly following the devastating earthquake that struck southern Türkiye on Monday 6 February. The whole Finnish Society has activated itself and Finland has contributed rescue personnel, funds, and material aid. The Finnish-Turkish community has been active in mobilizing aid in cooperation with other actors.
Picture: Material aid being shipped to Türkiye from the Logistics Center of the Finnish Red Cross, in Tampere, Finland.
Finland is known for its good capacity for Disaster Preparedness and for its capacity to operate in cold conditions. Our help has been deployed in cooperation with the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, NATO, and the Red Cross Red Crescent movement. Citizens have also contributed directly to the assistance.
The unique Finnish model for disaster preparedness is based on cooperation between different actors. The winterized tents, blankets, and other materials sent to the disaster area are owned by the National Emergency Supply Agency (NESA), but stored and shipped by the Finnish Red Cross and the Ministry of Interior coordinates the aid effort with the EU and NATO.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland donated EUR 1 million in humanitarian assistance to Türkiye and Syria through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies on Tuesday. The support will be used to provide food, shelter, medical supplies, and psychosocial support to people who lost their homes in the two countries. A Technical Assistance Team was dispatched also on Tuesday to help with the coordination of the Ministry of Interior.
Besides the authorities, the Finnish Red Cross (FRC), MSF Finland, Finnish Church Foreign Aid, and Finnish Business Council have all contributed financially substantial sums. In addition, Finnish Companies for example Nokia, Peikko, Reima, and UPM have donated to the rescue efforts.
This tragedy was a shock to us all, but especially for Finns with Turkish roots. An Economist from Helsinki Eyüp Yılmaz: “Many have relatives still in the earthquake ruins and many have lost family members. Turks living in Finland immediately launched donation campaigns with various associations, religious communities, and the Turkish Embassy in Helsinki.
Pictures: Finland-born economist from Helsinki, Eyüp Yılmaz has been active in the help efforts. On the right, a photo by him of the material donations in the Diyanet Centre of Helsinki.
Donation points were established in Vantaa, Lahti, Pori, Turku, and Tampere, where you could bring necessary supplies and products. In addition, many private individuals have set up their own donation points and have taken donated supplies by truck to the earthquake area in Türkiye.
Along with material contributions, monetary donations have also been vitally important. People have donated money directly to organizations working in the earthquake zone in Türkiye and to the government's Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (AFAD).”
More help from Finland is coming to the affected areas. Our embassy sends our deepest condolences to everyone who has been affected by this terrible disaster. The country of the white lilies will always stand by with its friends. We urge everyone to donate and help according to his or her best capability.
For more information and donations:
Turkish Red Crescent: https://www.kizilay.org.tr/
AFAD: https://www.afad.gov.tr/
If you wish to donate through Finnish Organizations, see for example this article in Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish): https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000009375550.html
Ministry of Interior: https://intermin.fi/-/suomi-lahettaa-asiantuntija-apua-turkkiin?languageId=en_US
Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://um.fi/press-releases/-/asset_publisher/ued5t2wDmr1C/content/suomelta-hataapua-turkin-ja-syyrian-maanjaristysalueelle/35732
National Emergency Supply Agency (NESA): https://www.huoltovarmuuskeskus.fi/en