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ANN/GROONG - Marmara Earthquake Update #10
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ISTANBUL, 09/13/99 21:00, (LRAPER) -- On the 23th day of the Marmara
Earthquake that devastated the Northwest of the Anatolian peninsula,
and on the 7th day of the earthquake in Athens that claimed the lives
of over 100 Greeks, the Marmara region shook once again at 14:55 hours
today.
At least 4 people died, 20 remain under the rubbles and over 280
people were injured in Kocaeli, at the epicenter of today's earthquake
which had a magnitude of 5.8 on the Richter scale. Some buildings in
Istanbul collapsed, including two old buildings in Kumkapi, in the
vicinity of the Armenian Patriarchate. All telephone lines were
paralyzed for the next four hours. The Ministry of Education anounced
all schools closed in the Marmara region for another two weeks. This
decision came only eight hours after all schools in Turkey had resumed
classes for the 1999-2000 schoolyear.
As this update is prepared numerous Kumkapi residents are again
spending the night in makeshift tents and sitting corners in the
little square between the Armenian Patriarchate and the Holy
Mother-of-God Armenian Patriarchal Church.
According to the Prime Ministry's Crisis Center, the official number
of victims who died because of the 17 August earthquake was 15,466, as
of this noon. This number is disputed by independent agencies who
claim that at least 20,000-22,000 people were killed by the earthquake
that devastated most of the Marmara region 27 days ago. Some officials
have confessed that no count was taken of those buried during the
first two days, before the government personnel began to move into the
region in order to coordinate the rescue and relief operations. Over
27,000 people are still being treated in hospitals in the Marmara
region for injuries received on 17 August.
On 7 September, Tuesday, a 5.9 magnitude quake ripped through the
northern suburbs of Athens, the Greek capital. Electric and telephone
lines were cut and water from damaged pipes flooded the streets. The
AKUT rescue team, a widely popular NGO in Turkey, was the first
international team to arrive in the disaster area. His Beatitude
Armenian Patriarch Mesrob II of Istanbul and all Turkey sent messages
of condolences to His Holiness Greek Patriarch Bartholomaios I of
Istanbul (the Ecumenical Patriarch of the Orthodox Church) and to His
Beatitude Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens sharing their pain for
those in their church communities who had lost their lives and
assuring them of his prayerful support.
On 5 September, Patriarch Mesrob II visited one of the Armenian
earthquake orphans, Aren (12), in the Admiral Bristol Hospital who had
just undergone a third surgery on his right arm. Aren, without even
being asked, told the Patriarch his horrible experience at 02.55 hours
on 17 August. His mother, Veronic, had rushed into his bedroom just
before the building had collapsed. She died as she tried to shield her
son from the collapsing wall. Once the rubble and the dust settled,
Aren realized that his mother who covered him with her body did not
respond. He called his father, Khatchig, in the next room. Noone
responded. A while later he heard his brother Aksel (14) calling
him. They couldn't move, but they began to communicate. Aksel told
his younger brother to sip from the water in the plastic bottle by his
bed sparingly. The rescue team reached Aren 32 hours later. His
brother was taken out of the rubble 42 hours later. Both of their
parents were killed. Caring soldiers took them to a hospital in Bursa,
where they were found by their grandmother three days after the
earthquake. The grandparents of the children are a retired couple with
very limited resources. Aren and Aksel Melkonian brothers are now
adopted by the Armenian Patriarchate, along with another Armenian
orphan who lost his father. Aren went through his fourth surgery at 10
a.m. today.
In the disaster zone itself, many tent cities have been erected, and
much food and bedding has been distributed without cost. Basic
medical care is, at least temporarily, in place. Clearing the rubble
continues around the clock, always with a view toward finding the
remains of the dead. There are still quite a few who have not been
found. Relief agencies have already begun to complain through the
media that the amount of aid received is declining day by day. The
Turkish State TV has launched a dynamic campaign to encourage all
citizens to participate in the relief efforts as much as they can.
The work of the CDR (Churches of Turkey Steering Committee for
Disaster Relief) has taken several courses. First is the erection of a
tent city for 1000 persons in Izmit, which is almost complete.
People have moved in, and are pleased with the tents and grateful for
the shelter (they’re also delighted with Ron Montamat, a retired
American engineer from Texas in Bermuda shorts who has volunteered
full time to supervise the project). Toilets and showers have been
erected. Food is being prepared in two locations on the site and
distributed to any who need it. It is mostly orderly, and the
tents – “four season” tents from Norway – are among the
best that can be seen in the region. But according to the Revd. Alan
McCain, "there is not another tent available for sale in all of
Europe". On the heels of the Kosovo crisis and other problems in the
Balkans, such supplies have been depleted. The CDR is contracting
for several hundred more tents to be made in Turkey before the end of
the month.
Secondly, the churches of the CDR will distribute some 2,000 packages
of food and hygiene supplies, each valued about $40, to villages and
other needy persons.
Norwegian Church Aid workers, together with a local engineer, have
completed a feasibility study and put together a project to bring
water to some 50,000 people in the vicinity of Adapazari who are
currently without running water.
Patriarch Mesrob has asked Professor Anie Kalayjian from Fordham
University to visit the Disaster Region at least for a period of two
weeks to help organize emotional assistance to the disaster stricken
people. The Professor has volunteered to help counselors deal with
the emotional effects of the earthquake. She is the author of
Disaster and Mass Trauma, and an internationally recognized expert on
post-traumatic stress. There is much sadness here: hearts are heavy
and lives are shattered, but most people remain gentle and grateful.
One young man in the CDR tent city said he had never been so ashamed,
but he and his family had no other recourse but to depend on help from
strangers.
Dozens of visitors – church delegations and journalists from around
the world – have contacted the CDR office in order to come to see
the devastation and offer their help. The CDR staff members are
deeply moved by such kindness and are sorry that the limited resources
sometimes make it difficult to provide them with what they need.
Patriarch Mesrob has circulated a letter to the clergy and the
councils of 38 Armenian Churches this afternoon, to provide the
Patriarchate with preliminary reports following today's 5.8 magnitude
aftershock. The Church of Surp Kevork in Samatya (Saint George) has
already reported new cracks that have developed on the stone arches of
the ancient building. Repair and renovation work must begin soon. Most
of the parish councils have already applied to the municipalities, the
Public Trusts Directorate (Wakf) and to the Higher Council of Ancient
Monuments for permission to proceed with the repair work. These public
offices are overwhelmed with the thousands of applications they have
been receiving following the 17 August Earthquake and its
aftershocks. It is hoped that the permits can be received within a
reasonable period of time such as two to four months, and the work can
begin perhaps just before Great Lent. Approximately US$ 1.2 million
will be needed for the greater project of repairing and renovating the
Patriarchate, the historic Church of Surp Vortvots Vorodman that was
once the see of the Legate of the Jerusalem Patriarch in Istanbul,
nine other churches, two church halls, two historic bellfries and
parts of the Surp Pergitch Armenian Hospital.
Invited by Their Eminences Archbishop Khajag of New York and
Archbishop Vatche of Los Angeles, Patriarch Mesrob will be in the
United States between 27 September and 12 October 1999.
All proceeds of a benefit concert sponsored by the Eastern Diocese of
the Armenian Church of America will go to the Armenian Patriarchate of
Istanbul to help support its relief effort. The Concert will feature
performance by violinists Ani and Ida Kavafian and pianist Sahan
Arzruni. All three are former natives of Istanbul, who are eager
to offer therir talents to the city's greatest Armenian institution in
this critical cause. Seven Istanbul Armenian organizations in the
NY/NJ metro area have joined efforts to help organize the concert
which will take place Friday, October 1, 1999 8:00p.m. at St. Vartan
Cathedral, 630 Second Avenue (corner of 34th street) New York City.
His Beatitude the Patriarch will then visit the Los Angeles area where
he will celebrate the Divine Liturgy on 10 October, Sunday. A benefit
luncheon hosted by Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of America
will follow.
Presently, the Armenian Patriarchate continues relief efforts mainly
in the following three areas:
1) DISASTER RELIEF: Our Patriarchate is a major partner in the CDR
(Christian Churches of Turkey Steering Committee for Disaster Relief)
which is an ecumenical endeavour. The CDR, together with ACT, takes
food, medication, sanitary materials and tents to the disaster
zone. The CDR was founded immediately after the 17 August earthquake
following a series of meetings in the Armenian Patriarchate.
Patriarch Mesrob is one of the overseers of CDR, while Mrs. Luiz Bakar
serves as a member of the committee.
2) SOCIAL AID & SOLIDARITY: Patriarch Mesrob has directed the creation
of this fund which will take care of the Armenian orphans, three in
number, who are in need of care. The Patriarchate has pledged to
underwrite the costs of their education until they complete
university. The Jinishian Memorial Fund has contributed US$ 10,000 to
this undertaking. It is also this fund that will make Professor
Kalayjian's visit to the Disaster Zone possible.Indeed, an earthquake
trauma clinic to help children and youths at this time is more than
necessary. Many are afraid to enter buildings.
3) REPAIR & RENOVATION: The third floor of the Patriarchate, two
church halls, nine churches, two schools and two historic bellfries
have received damages during the 17 August earthquake and the
aftershocks which are still continuing. The estimated cost of repair
and renovation of these Armenian institutions will be around US$ 1.2
million.
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