In Hatay, one of the provinces where the severe earthquakes on February 6 caused great destruction, the feast rush is experienced again in a bittersweet way.
The severe shocks, which caused thousands of people to lose their lives and relatives, also brought financial damages. The unexpected earthquake, which caused thousands of people to lose their homes and workplaces, changed the lives of the people of Hatay overnight.
International Blue Crescent Foundation (IBC) continues to support the people of the region in every sense, using its wide knowledge and experience as a compass in Hatay, as in other provinces damaged by the earthquake. Following the self-sacrificing steps of IBC, which is aware that one of the biggest and urgent issues that need to be solved after the earthquake is housing. On October 19, 2023 the official opening of Turkey-Korea Friendship City was organized under the coordination of AFAD and Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in Serinyol region of Hatay. IBC participated in the Turkey-Korea Friendship City Project is a part of KOICA's Humanitarian Partnership Program, in partnership with Good Neighbors.
The Turkey-Korea Friendship City, which was established so that thousands of people could live in better conditions, was welcomed with bittersweet joy this year, as in previous feasts.
Just before the Eid, an iftar program was organized with the participation of Mehmet Özhaseki, Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change. IBC congratulated the residents of the container city, who continued to maintain their long-standing traditions and customs on this feast, by offering them chocolate. Even though time has passed, the feast, which reinforces the longing for lost relatives and loved ones, was passed with a bittersweet excitement this year as well. Eid visits were intense, showing that despite all the pain experienced in the container city, there is always hope.
As IBC, we will continue our support and activities to ensure that the feasts are welcomed with great happiness, not sadness, in our provinces affected by the earthquake, including Serinyol, Hatay.
