Over 15,000 Dead in Turkey Earthquake... Religious Groups Launch Fundraising Campaigns

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo Mideum] As the death toll from the massive earthquake in southeastern Turkey has reached 15,000, religious communities have been joining the relief efforts one after another.

The city center of Hatay in southern Turkey devastated by the earthquake [Image source=AP Yonhap News]

The Catholic Church expressed condolences to the people of Turkey and Syria on the 9th through a statement issued in the name of Archbishop Jeong Soon-taek, Archbishop of the Seoul Archdiocese.

Archbishop Jeong said, "I pray that all the souls who perished in the strong earthquake in Turkey may rest in eternal peace under the Lord's comfort and mercy," and added, "Together with the faithful of the Seoul Archdiocese, we sincerely pray for the speedy recovery of all the people of Turkey and Syria from grief and suffering."

The donation will be collected as a special offering during Sunday Masses at each parish within the archdiocese on the 12th and delivered to the earthquake-affected areas in Turkey. An emergency relief fund of $100,000 (approximately 126 million KRW) will be initially sent through Caritas International, and additional funds raised later will be delivered separately.

Protestant churches have also started fundraising. On the 8th, Lee Young-hoon, senior pastor of Yoido Full Gospel Church and president of the Korea Christian Federation, said, "The Korea Christian Federation deeply mourns and offers heartfelt condolences for the deaths and extensive damage caused by the series of earthquakes in our brother nation, Turkey," adding, "The Federation, together with all member denominations, will pray for Turkey and carry out fundraising activities to support the victims."

The foundation "Areumdawoon Donghaeng" (Beautiful Companion), chaired by Jinwoo, the head monk of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, announced, "We will conduct a fundraising campaign for earthquake relief in Turkey until March 31," and stated, "We plan to provide emergency relief for residents in the affected areas of Turkey who lost their homes in an instant and support their swift return to normalcy."

The Cheontae Order sent an urgent official letter to temples nationwide starting on the 8th to collect donations. The letter urged, "With the heart of practicing the Buddha's great compassion and mercy, we expect active participation from Cheontae Order Buddhists in this fundraising."

The magnitude 7.8 earthquake that occurred on the 6th in the border area between southern Turkey and northern Syria resulted in over 15,000 deaths by the early morning of the 9th. On the 8th, the WHO (World Health Organization) projected that the death toll could reach 20,000.