World

Tent Cities For Quake Survivors

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

August 17, 1999 / 12:57 PM EDT / CBS

Tens of thousands of people left homeless by the deadly earthquake that rocked Turkey were to move into tent cities set up by rescue workers Saturday fearing the spread of disease.

The workers set about the task of hooking up portable toilets and organizing food distribution for the tent city populations.

Some aid groups are unable to get through clogged highways to places where help is needed most and some small towns have received no outside help at all.

To that end, three Navy ships with 2,100 Marines from 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit are to arrive Sunday to provide more humanitarian assistance in western Turkey. Twenty-two helicopters that can provide medical evacuations from damaged areas will accompany the ships.

World Relief Group Disaster Response Coordinator Steve Houston said some of his staff are organizing the purchasing of things as simple as bread and water and cheese to distribute in the hardest hit areas. He said the organization also will examine shelter options for people who lost their homes.

Meanwhile, American officials say cash is the best thing people can donate to help earthquake victims.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (AID) is urging Americans to call 800-872-4373 (USAID-RELIEF) during normal business hours if they wish to make a cash donation through one of the more than two dozen private voluntary agencies involved in the relief effort. Donors can also call InterAction, an umbrella group for private voluntary organizations at 202-667-8227.

Turkish authorities are welcoming donations of certain kinds of material goods. A list of more than 100 items considered "urgently required" ranges from tents and body bags to jackhammers and surgical kits.

The American Jewish Committee said Friday it is making a cash donation of $225,000 to predominantly Muslim Turkey. Earlier, the AJC contributed $25,000. Perhaps facilitating the AJC generosity are the friendly ties Israel maintains with Turkey. But Greece and Greek Cypriots also have made contributions to the relief effort despite their long-standing enmity toward Turkey.

Babbitt said AID contributions to earthquake relief total about $3 million and are increasing. The Pentagon also has contributed to the assistance effort, but no figures were available.

At the request of the Turkish Red Crescent, the International Red Cross launched an initial appeal for nearly $7 million to assist some 100,000 people affected by the quake. The European Union said it is sending $2.1 million in humanitarian aid, and promised to give more.

Britain donated $800,000, Germany provided $560,000, Ireland added $270,000, and the Arab Gulf Program for U.N. Development Organizations, based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, announced a gift of $150,000. Swiss charities promised $233,000 and appealed to the public for more, and the Finnish Red Cross gave $50,000.

Russia also sent rescue teams and equipment, while Japan, Iran, Bulgaria, Romania, France, Autria, Macedonia and Canada also offered help.