"Cheer Up... Grandmothers Set Out Carrying Relief Bundles"

Grandmothers in Earthquake-Affected Nearby Areas
Took Action Themselves as Government Support Delayed
Clothing, Blankets, and Infant Baby Food Included

As a devastating earthquake struck T?rkiye (Turkey) and Syria, causing numerous casualties, grandmothers near the affected areas in T?rkiye have united to support the disaster victims. When government equipment and relief supplies were delayed, they personally packed relief items into bundles and delivered them to support centers.

[Photo by Hurriyet website capture]

According to the Turkish daily newspaper H?rriyet on the 8th (local time), grandmothers estimated to be in their 70s and 80s are carrying large sacks filled with essential items such as clothes and food back and forth to earthquake support centers.

To help earthquake victims struggling with the cold weather, the sacks reportedly contain winter clothing, blankets, electric heaters, mattresses, as well as baby food for infants.

The grandmothers are active mainly in the 10 southeastern provinces, which are the primary earthquake-affected areas.

Seeing these women carrying bundles larger than their torsos across snowy paths, netizens worldwide have responded with comments such as "Applause for the grandmothers' dedication," "A touching scene. I will pray for T?rkiye," and "I hope there will be no further damage."

[Photo by Hurriyet, captured from the official website]

Meanwhile, the number of victims in T?rkiye and Syria continues to rise over time. Although warm-hearted support from the international community is ongoing, the affected areas are so vast and rescue capacity is severely insufficient, so the death toll is expected to keep increasing.

Earlier, the World Health Organization (WHO) projected that the total death toll from this earthquake could exceed 20,000. Additionally, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) estimated a 14% chance that the number could surpass 100,000. There are concerns that if casualties increase further, the death toll could exceed that of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, which claimed 18,500 lives.