The Israeli delegation in Turkey
Photo: Defense Ministry
Israeli village for earthquake victims inaugurated in Turkey
Some 130 mobile housing units donated by Israel to Turkey will now house 800 students in Van district which was ravaged by earthquake last October
Three months after an earthquake hit the Van region in Turkey and caused the death of hundreds and left thousands wounded and homeless, an "Israeli village" was inaugurated on Monday with 130 mobile homes donated by Israel to the Turkish survivors. '"Only true friends help with such speed and concern," stressed the Turks.
The Israeli village (Photo: Defense Ministry)
The Defense Ministry delegation led by Dudu Chen the head of the emergency preparedness sector and Marcel Aviv humanitarian aid coordinator, toured the district with their Turkish hosts, the deputy rector of the local university Professor Mehmet Uzer and the governor of Van.
Culinary Cooperation
Raz Shechnik
Peace begins with shawarma? Chef Shaul Ben Aderet travels to Turkey to take part in cooking show on local TV. 'In spite of the knives, we get along in the kitchen,' he says. 'My dream is to cook for Erdogan'
At the inauguration ceremony Van's governor said: "After the harsh earthquake, you appeared, you Israelis, with lots of equipment and lots of good will to help, and for that I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are our true friends and the proof is seen before us."
During the tour, Professor Uzer noted that 800 students will soon be housed in the units. "Thanks to you we will be able to get our lives back on track and re-house the students who fled to their families after the disaster."
In total, 1,300 citizens who lost their homes in the earthquake will receive housing in the new village.
A powerful 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Turkey last October, destroying over 2,000 houses and leaving thousands homeless. A few countries including the US, Israel and Armenia sent aid including tents medical supplies and blankets to the disaster-hit nation.
