Taiwanese NGO based in Turkey is appealing to the public for donations
Taiwanese NGO based in Turkey is appealing to the public for donations
2023-02-10
Ever since a strong earthquake hit Turkey four days ago, the Taiwan-Reyhanli Centre for World Citizens, a Taiwanese NGO based in Turkey, has provided shelter to scores of earthquake survivors. The center, which was originally a community center for Syrian refugees, now takes in about 300 to 400 people a day. The center’s head Chiu Chen-yu returned to Taiwan on Thursday night and is now appealing for funds and more resources, so that his center can continue providing post-disaster relief.
Following a devastating earthquake, this little girl and her family sought at the “Taiwan center” in the Turkish city of Reyhanli near the Syrian border. The center says it’s receiving 300 to 400 survivors a day. Its head, Chiu Chen-yu, returned to Taiwan on Thursday night. He’s expected to stay here for two weeks, and drum up even more resources for earthquake relief.
Chiu Chen-yu
Taiwan-Reyhanli Centre for World Citizens
Now in Reyhanli, the “Taiwan center” is the only institution that provides food, power, and water for free. I’ve come back this time because I hope that I can cooperate with the general public, scholars, specialists, architects, our donors and NGOs. We will look to our past experience with the 1999 Jiji earthquake to turn the “Taiwan center,” which is currently like an isolated island, into a place with energy self-sufficiency.
Chiu says the city of Reyhanli, where his center is located, is in a state of anarchy, with power and water shortages. He says that with resources limited, there could soon be a food crisis.
Chiu Chen-yu
Taiwan-Reyhanli Centre for World Citizens
The Taiwan center is an initiative of Taiwanese civil society. I am really grateful to the Taiwanese community for their support for us. I believe that the “Taiwan center” can keep on going and of course I very much hope that we can cooperate with the Taiwan government. In this most hopeless town, that is suffering from a Syrian refugee crisis and, at the same time, is suffering from a once-in-a-century earthquake, whatever the “Taiwan center” does will be watched by the world.
When Chiu’s “Taiwan Center” was established in 2016, Taiwan’s foreign ministry contributed about NT$12 million, but the monthly operating expenses of more than NT$1 million are raised by Chiu and Taiwanese business people based in Turkey. Following the earthquake, the center launched a fundraising campaign for emergency resettlement and relief. So far donations have exceeded NT$6 million. The hope is that the center can keep on operating and provide help to more earthquake survivors.
震後如無政府狀態! 台灣中心執行長返台求援
2023-02-10
土耳其強震，我國在當地民間組織「台灣雷伊漢勒世界公民中心」湧入不少災民避難，每天收容人數高達三四百人。而所在地宛如無政府狀態，讓台灣中心如同孤島。因此中心執行長裘振宇昨晚搭機返台，直言是希望尋找資源，同時也將募捐的物資合法合理分配。
歷經恐怖強震後，這位土耳其小女孩跟著家人到土耳其「台灣中心」尋求庇護，中心更每天持續接受3、400位災民避難。執行長裘振宇週四晚間返台，預計停留2個禮拜，希望尋找更多救濟資源。
[[台灣雷伊漢勒世界公民中心執行長 裘振宇]]
“現在在雷伊漢勒市，"台灣中心"是唯一的一個機構，還免費提供食物、電源，還有水源的地方，這次回來就是希望，跟台灣的社會大眾、學者、專家、建築師，這些捐贈者，或是所謂的國際非政府組織一起合作，如何從過去的 921的經驗，把"台灣中心"現在這個孤島，能夠變成能源自給自足”
裘振宇強調，中心所在地「雷伊漢勒市」現在處於無政府狀態，已經開始缺水、缺電，而且在有限資源下，食物也面臨缺乏的窘境。
[[台灣雷伊漢勒世界公民中心執行長 裘振宇]]
“(台灣中心)都是我們民間自動自發地來經營來做，我真的是非常感謝台灣社會大眾，對我們的支持，所以說，我相信"台灣中心"一定會活下去，那當然我們也很希望，能夠跟台灣政府合作，在這個最沒有希望的小鎮，遭受敘利亞難民危機，同時遭受這樣子的百年一遇的大地震，"台灣中心"怎麼做，做給世界看”
「台灣中心」2016年成立時，我國外交部有出資約1200萬元台幣協助，但每個月上百萬元的營運經費，都由裘振宇與當地台商自行募集。這次地震後也再發起「緊急安置與救助」募資，目前已突破600萬元，希望讓台灣中心維持營運，救助更多災民。
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