CSS extended our helping hands to the Turkish Consulate and Turkish Business Council by providing our warehouse and staff in Al Quoz as part of the disaster relief program. CSS Group joined hands with Esskay Logistics under the patronage of the Turkish Consulate and Turkish Business Council. This unprecedented humanitarian effort was launched to collect, sort, and dispatch tons of relief material to Turkey. UAE residents had come together in large numbers to send relief items for those impacted by the deadly earthquake in Turkey and Syria. The collection drive was a combined campaign by the Turkish Consulate in Dubai, the Turkish Business Council, and Turkish Airlines.
The Aid Efforts
CSS Homeward-Bound warehouse opened its doors to residents and volunteers who worked round the clock accepting donations, listing, packaging, and arranging the logistics to move the items from Dubai to Turkey. Donations like blankets, food items, clothing, items for children, medicines, and many more relief materials were packed at the warehouse in Al Quoz. The three-day campaign saw thousands of residents of various nationalities making their way with donations to the warehouse. Turkish authorities had made a list of relief materials that can be donated. “The material to be donated must have never been used before and must be suitable for winter conditions”, a campaign message to residents had earlier read.
The items collected included all types of winter clothing required for adults and children, coats, raincoats, boots, jumpers, trousers, gloves, scarves, berets, socks, and underwear. As for food, durable canned food and baby food were also collected. The Consulate had also asked for baby diapers, hygiene and cleaning materials, and sanitary napkins. Also, items like tents, bedding, mattresses, blankets, sleeping bags, tube stoves, heaters, thermos, flashlights (excluding battery), and generators were collected and packed at the warehouse.
Turkey-Syria Earthquake and its Aftermath
The earthquake struck southern and central Turkey and western Syria on February 6. The 7.8 magnitude earthquake unleashed devastation in southern Turkey and Syria. A total of three powerful earthquakes struck the region in less than 24 hours, claiming more than 40,000 people. It not only caused huge loss of life in both Turkey and Syria, but also led to thousands of injuries, displacement of people from their homes, and substantial damages. Many rescue teams from around the world have been assisting Turkey and Syria with aid and relief work.
Yunis Sezar, head of Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management said, “We are in front of perhaps the biggest disaster we have faced in history. The death toll due to the earthquakes rose to 40,642, and the work of searching and rescue for people stuck under the debris is in the process.” World Health Organization said 26 million people in Turkey and Syria need aid. Seventy countries and 14 international organizations have offered Turkey relief following the quake, Tayyip Erdoğan (President of Turkey) said, including the United States, the United Kingdom, the UAE, Israel, and Russia.
The CSS CSR Efforts
At CSS, our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is part of our core belief. Our CSR efforts enables us to be socially accountable to ourselves, our stakeholders, and the public. The corporate social responsibility initiatives of CSS have always positively impacted all aspects of society be it economic, social, and environmental.
We have always been at the forefront of providing support at times of natural calamities in and around the region and beyond. The team at the warehouse at Al Quoz tirelessly helped with sorting, packing, and dispatching relief material along with other volunteers. After receiving an overwhelming response from scores of members of the community and Turkish expats the organizers had to extend the campaign by a day.
Roshmon Manoli, Vice President, of Freight Forwarding, Consolidated Shipping Group (CSS Group), said, “As part of the larger CSR mission initiated by our Chairman – T.S. Kaladharan, CSS has always been providing support at times of natural calamities in and around the region. Keeping the same humanitarian spirit intact, CSS has extended its aid to the Turkish Consulate and Turkish Business Council by providing our warehouse and staff in Al Quoz as part of the disaster relief program. Supplies will be collected and we welcome the contribution of the larger community during these difficult times for the people of Turkey.”
UAE to Turkey with Love
Under the directives of the leadership of UAE President, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAEswung into action from Day 1 of the earthquake. UAE has been continually sending relief aid to those affected by the earthquake in Syria and Turkey, as part of “Gallant Knight/2”. 37 cargo planes carrying food and medical supplies and shelters for the affected people have been operating from Dubai to Istanbul. Planes have been dispatched to Turkey and Syria with emergency aid, food, medical supplies and rescue teams. In the UAE, volunteers ,humanitarian organizations, and government entities are coming together to mobilize relief. The Emirates Red Crescent is leading a ‘Bridges of Good’ campaign, through which residents have been offering help.
“We are very pleased that the Emirati leadership offered us a helping hand in this moment of distress, and sent teams to deal with it. We are touched by their contributions said Mustafa İlker Kılıç, Consul General of the Turkey Consulate.
In keeping the spirit of the leadership of this nation, CSS has always stepped in with resources and efforts for the hurting world. T.S. Kaladharan, the Chairman of CSS has always been encouraging the teams at CSS to stretch our helping hand to anyone who needs it. He emphasized, “Humanism is when we look out for each other. We might not be able to change the whole world by ourselves, but we surely need to do our bit”.