29.09.2021 Ankara
The check for aid collected for natural disasters by the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) and its affiliated chambers and exchanges was presented to Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu and AFAD President Yunus Sezer at the Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate (AFAD).
In his speech,
Hisarcıklıoğlu thanked AFAD for its successful, selfless and life-giving work.
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated
that they are doing their part on behalf of the business community for the
forest fires and flood disasters that the country is suffering, and reminded
that they started a fundraising campaign on August 3rd to help heal
the wounds.
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated
that they have collected material and cash aid from 81 provinces in this
context, and that chambers and exchanges, sector councils, women's and young
entrepreneurs councils, business and citizens participated in the campaign.
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated
that they transferred the collected cash to AFAD today and stated that 50.5
million liras were raised within the scope of the campaign.
- “The aid collected reached 64.1 million liras”
Hisarcıklıoğlu noted
the assistance they have made due to the disasters, “We sent 3.5 million liras
to the Governorship of Artvin to be used for the urgent needs needed due to the
flooding in Arhavi, and 5 million liras to the Antalya Governorate to be used
for urgent needs due to forest fires in the Antalya region. In this context,
the approximate amount of material aid sent to disaster zones is 13.6 million
liras. Since the beginning of the disasters, the total of our material and cash
aid has reached 64.1 million Liras.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated
that they are also working with chambers and exchanges to prepare the Turkish
business world for disasters, and in this context, they have formed an
“Earthquake-Disaster Workgroup” with the heads of chambers and commodity
exchanges within TOBB.
- Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu
Interior Minister
Süleyman Soylu reminded us of disasters in different parts of Turkey.
Pointing out that the
world is moving towards urbanization at great speed, Soylu said that this
presents some problems.
Soylu explained what
was done in the earthquake, fire and flooded areas and said that TOBB President
Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu gave the necessary support in the processes.
Minister Soylu stated
that all chambers and commodity exchanges were mobilized in the same aid during
the Elazığ earthquake.
Emphasizing that there
is a strong network of humanitarians, Soylu noted that the state is also
strong. Interior Minister Soylu said they would never abandon citizens to their
fates.
Soylu stated that
commissions were established after the fires and floods, and that business
people came to them and expressed their demands. Süleyman Soylu reported that
over 80 percent of the 1,861 vehicles without KASKO and insurance were also
covered.
“A total of 961,351,000
Liras of aid has arrived so far,” Soylu said, noting that President Recep
Tayyip Erdoğan is leading the fire and flood disaster relief campaign. Minister
Soylu reported that Qatar and Kuwait are also supporting the campaign.
Soylu thanked TOBB for
their donations to the campaign and noted that material assistance was also
provided.
TOBB Board members,
Antalya, Arhavi, Aydın, Bodrum, İnebolu, Kastamonu, Manavgat, Marmaris, Milas,
Muğla, Silifke, Sinop, Tunceli and Van chamber and commodity exchange
Presidents and İstanbul Chamber of Commerce, Ankara Chamber of Commerce,
İstanbul Commodity Exchange, Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Istanbul
and Marmara, Aegean, Mediterranean, Black Sea Regions Sea Chamber of Commerce,
Ankara Chamber of Commerce Polatlı Commodity Exchange Presidents attended the
meeting.
After the speeches, the
chamber presidents were presented with a plaque thanking them on behalf of
AFAD.