Aid to Earthquake Victims
Diocesan Press Service. November 7, 1966 [48-3]
The response of Christians to the widespread disaster which followed an earthquake in Turkey, Aug. 19, was highlighted in a report given the Committee on World Relief and Interchurch Aid by Christopher King, Church of England layman and a member of the staff of the World Council of Churches Division of Interchurch Aid, Refugee and World Service.
Mr. King's responsibilities are centered in the Middle East, and thus he was personally connected with the efforts which followed the earthquake which occurred around Mt. Bingol, in Asia Minor. After an immediate shipment of emergency supplies, Mr. King, along with the local refugee representative in Turkey, met with Turkish government officials to determine how the member churches of the World Council of Churches could aid the people of this predominately Muslim area.
The Turkish officials welcomed the offer and assigned two villages to the WCC, Tasdibek and Akgelin, for rebuilding.
During the winter, plans will be made in cooperation with the Turkish Ministry of Reconstruction for permanent rebuilding. In the meantime, however, volunteers and villagers are rushing to complete temporary shelters, for temperatures in the area average around -4o F. by November. The villagers have been living in tents but these will not provide substantial protection against the cold. Temporary shelters will be partially underground, have low walls and an A-frame roof.
It is hoped that resources will be forthcoming to enable the World Council to undertake the building of a third village.
The Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief and Interchurch Aid has given an initial grant of $5,000 toward this project, and there are plans to give another grant in the near future.