Help for Hatay

MAPAL donates 5,000 euros for the victims of the severe earthquake in the Turkisch-Syrian border region. During a visit to the donation collection center of the "Erdbebenhilfe Hatay (Earthquake Aid Hatay)", Dr. Jochen Kress and two employees gave a symbolic check to Aalen's Lord Mayor Frederick Brütting. “It is very important to MAPAL to provide emergency aid, even if it can only be a symbolic act in relation to the extent of the disaster", said the President of the MAPAL group. Lord Mayor Brütting thanked him and emphasised that the city would ensure that the people in Hatay benefit in full from the money. 

Both Kress and Brütting were shocked by the extent of the destruction and the increasing number of victims. “Activity helps you to get out of a feeling of powerlessness," Brütting said. In Aalen and the region, numerous organisations, clubs and volunteers have formed an aid alliance to help the people in Hatay quickly and unbureaucratically. The city of Aalen coordinates this campaign. For many years Aalen has maintained close and personal ties to Hatay, in particular to the sister city of Antakya, the seat of the Hatay administrative community. The province, home to around 1.6 million people, was at the epicenter of the February 6 quake.

Kress went round the halls of the collection center and also spoke to MAPAL employees. Vecdi Temizkan and Yilmaz Meydanogullari are on the board of the Antakya-Aalen culture club and are involved in the aid campaign together with other club members who also work at MAPAL. The employees are worrying about their families and friends in Antakya and spoke about relatives who lost their homes or died. The helpers are currently spending every free minute in the collection center to sort, pack and load the donations together with other volunteers. There are tons of clothing, blankets, hygiene and children's supplies as well as food that have been collected. Kress was impressed by the enormous commitment of the people. “It is moving to see how closely the city and the institutions stand together to help the victims of the earthquake. He added that he is particularly proud "that our employees are actively involved in this commitment."