A 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck southeast Turkey and northwest Syria on February 6, 2023, leading to heavy casualties and property damage and leaving tens of thousands of people homeless and in desperate need of material assistance. Humans are related to one another in the face of disasters. The earthquake in Turkey and Syria is causing great concern among people all over the world, including the Chinese. To provide urgent aid to the afflicted areas, the Chinese government immediately launched a mechanism for emergency humanitarian aid. World Peasant Association (Global Peasant Organization) and China Agriculture Cooperation Association, as international public welfare organizations, promptly organized all pertinent departments to actively coordinate aid supplies. At last, about 2.3 tons of supplies, including 50 relief tents and 428 blankets, were collected for donation to Turkey.  

In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, WPA (GPO)’s Executive Director Mr. Shi Yazheng, Secretary General Mr. James Zhang, and leaders of CACA issued urgent instructions to establish a working group to actively plan aid projects for Turkey and Syria. Strong support was given by China Southern Airlines, which also actively assisted in organizing international shipping preparation and provided free transportation. The working group has finished procurement, logistics transfer, and customs clearance after more than half a month of hard effort.

On February 26, relief tents and blankets collected by WPA (GPO) from China’s Guangdong Province and Zhejiang Province were delivered as scheduled to the departure business office of Guangzhou Baiyun Airport. All the donated items were processed for customs clearance, after which the export procedures were successfully completed.  

The departure ceremony for the aid supplies jointly supported by WPA (GPO), CACA and China Southern Airlines to Turkey was held at Guangzhou Baiyun Airport on the morning of March 1. Attending the ceremony were leaders from all three parties. The departure ceremony was also attended by staff from CACA Guangdong Workstation, Goldjet Logistics and Baiyun Logistics Company. 

At the departure ceremony, representatives from WPA (GPO) and CACA gave their sincere appreciation and respect to China Southern Airlines, which actively coordinates international shipping and free transportation, as well as to the compassionate Chinese people who generously donated aid supplies.

According to statistics, over 1.25 million people are temporarily homeless in Turkey and Syria as a result of damaged or entirely destroyed homes. All staff of WPA (GPO), CACA and China Southern Airlines also share the feelings of people in afflicted areas and offer their heartfelt sympathies and condolences to them.

When trouble occurs at one spot, help comes from all quarters. This is the most fundamental act of kindness and the traditional virtue of the Chinese people. We hope that the supplies jointly provided by WPA (GPO), CACA, and China Southern Airlines will assist people of the disaster areas in overcoming difficulties and re-building their homes to the greatest extent possible.