Members of the Providence Sunnatul Jamaat in collaboration with the management and staff of Mohamed’s Enterprise have accumulated $5 million in response to the Turkey/Syria earthquake emergency appeal.
Two nations are reeling from a devastating 7.8 magnitude quake on February 6, 2023, which has resulted in thousands of fatalities, injuries to civilians, and destruction to infrastructure. According to international reports, the death toll in the neighbouring countries has surpassed 46,000 as of Sunday.
In a statement on Sunday, the organisers of this relief initiative expressed their gratitude to all the donors, supporters and well-wishers who have made a contribution to the effort.
“To date we have been able to accumulate the sum of G$5,000,000 (five million Guyana dollars) in response to this appeal. This donation in cash shall be forwarded through Human Concern International; a Canadian based social welfare and relief organisation, which has been in the forefront of alleviating the suffering of the less fortunate around the world for over forty years irrespective of ethnicity or creed,” the organisers said.
They added, “We all join in prayers for God-Almighty to grant patience and relief to the victims of this disaster as we sympathise and grieve for their loss of loved ones. Additionally, we call upon our fellow brothers in faith to mimic our appeal in their respective communities across Guyana.”
This initiative by Guyanese comes on the heels of the Guyana Government last week donating US$100,000 to Türkiye and Syria
Immediately following the massive earthquake and major aftershock, President Dr Irfaan Ali had written the leaders of both countries, conveying solidarity and support on behalf of the Government and people of Guyana.
On Wednesday, the Guyana Government announced that it “…has since taken a decision to contribute the sum of US$50,000 to Türkiye and US$50,000 to Syria to aid the relief efforts underway.”
This donation was in response to a humanitarian call by the United Nations and as such, the contributions will be channelled through the UN.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday issued an appeal for humanitarian funding to bring urgent relief to approximately five million Syrians. The Secretary-General announced that US$397 million is needed to address humanitarian concerns over the next three months, up to May 2023, in priority areas such as shelter, healthcare, food and protection.
The Secretary-General subsequently launched a US$1 billion humanitarian appeal for the people of Türkiye, which will cover a three-month period and assist some 5.2 million people. The money will be used to rapidly scale up vital support for Government-led relief efforts in a number of areas including food security, protection, education, water and shelter.
Moved by Guyana’s response
Following Guyana’s donation, UN Resident Coordinator in Guyana, Ye?im Oruç last week said she is “professionally and personally moved” by the Government’s response to the UN’s global humanitarian appeal.
Nazar Mohamed of Mohamed’s Enterprise handing over the donation cheque
“I have friends and family in that part of the world. Therefore, this is very close to me. But for the people of Guyana, those places are so so far away. There are no pressing political or economic ties. There are also needs in Guyana and closer to home in the Caribbean. But this contribution is significant for precisely those reasons …this contribution is a decisive demonstration of Guyana’s commitment to global solidarity as a principle of international relations and peace and to end human suffering everywhere,” Oruç stated.
According to the Turkish national, when news of the devastating earthquake spread, many of her local friends and colleagues called to check on her loved ones. Then a few days later, she found envelopes of small cash at her home in Georgetown – her Guyanese neighbours had left modest gifts at her door with sympathy notes and prayers – in all faiths. Those were deposited online with the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the UN World Food Programme (WFP).
She added that during her official functions as UN Resident Coordinator, civil society and Government partners, including Ministers, all took moments out to reflect on her country’s loss and drew lessons from the global solidarity for their own renewed commitment to serve, to improve, to lift those who may need assistance here.
“This contribution made by the Head of State on behalf of the people of Guyana gives a tangible shape and volume to the thoughtfulness, kindness and the many acts of solidarity which I had the profound honour to witness in the past days.”
“All those individual thoughts, prayers and contributions are herewith compounded with those of many others from all around the globe, sending a message from a Guyana for humanity through the global family of nation, the United Nations. And for all those reasons, and many more, accept Guyana please my profound gratitude, love and respect,” Oruç posited. (G8)
