GEBKİM Chemical Industrial Zone Stands by Earthquake Victims

GEBKİM Kimya OSB Stands with Earthquake Victims Reconstruction efforts continue in the wake of devastation caused by earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş and Hatay. GEBKİM Kimya İhtisas OSB, which extended aid from the first day of the earthquake, has set up tents, containers and wooden bungalow houses in Kahramanmaraş and Hatay to help meet the shelter needs of earthquake victims. Bungalow houses produced in Kocaeli are being sent to earthquake zones and installed by GEBKİM teams. Vefa İbrahim Aracı, Chairman of the Board of GEBKİM Kimya İhtisas OSB, recently inspected the work being carried out in Kahramanmaraş and Hatay, which suffered significant damage in the earthquakes. Industrialists from GEBKİM, which established an aid line from Kocaeli to the earthquake zones, sprang into action following the major disaster that occurred on 6 February. GEBKİM OSB, in meetings held with OSBÜK under the leadership of the Ministry of Industry and Technology, continues its assistance to the earthquake zones in coordination with Kocaeli Governor Seddar Yavuz in Kahramanmaraş and Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tahir Büyükakın in Hatay Defne to meet the needs identified. GEBKİM is also setting up tents, containers and bungalow houses in Hatay and Kahramanmaraş to address the urgent shelter problem. The wooden bungalow houses produced in Kocaeli by GEBKİM Kimya İhtisas OSB and dispatched to the region are being installed by GEBKİM teams. There is a race against time to make the houses available for use by citizens affected by the earthquake. To date, approximately 200 bungalow houses have been erected in Antakya, Kırıkhan and Altınözü in Hatay, as well as on the Sütçü İmam University Campus in Kahramanmaraş. Additionally, 200 tents and 50 containers have been sent to the region and installed, while 20 mobile toilets and showers have been delivered. The 14 square-meter bungalow houses, which have been insulated against cold weather and rain, are equipped with 4 beds for earthquake victim guests, as well as sinks, stoves and heaters, in addition to food, hygiene and other emergency supplies. Priority is being given to bungalow houses due to shorter production, logistics and installation times. GEBKİM is actively working in the coming days to complete production and delivery to the earthquake zones of 55 additional bungalow houses measuring 23 square meters, consisting of 2 rooms and featuring their own toilet and shower facilities. In this way, over 250 bungalow houses being erected and more than 1,500 citizens will be accommodated in a warm environment. GEBKİM Kimya İhtisas OSB, with the contributions of its member companies, continues to send priority needs such as food, hygiene and cleaning products, health products, mother and baby supplies, baby washing units and clothing to the earthquake zones, in addition to carrying out shelter-related work. Six containers with baby washing units sent by GEBKİM to Hatay to ease life in the earthquake zones meet an important need in newborn and baby care. Vefa İbrahim Aracı, Chairman of the Board of GEBKİM Kimya İhtisas OSB, visited the earthquake zones in Kahramanmaraş and Hatay in recent days and inspected the living spaces established by GEBKİM and the work being carried out. Meeting with earthquake victim families in the container city set up in Hatay Kırıkhan, Aracı listened to the needs of residents there and spent time with children. GEBKİM OSB Chairman Vefa İbrahim Aracı met with Kocaeli Governor Seddar Yavuz, who was assigned to coordinate efforts from the first day of the earthquake in Kahramanmaraş, to consult. Aracı also visited Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tahir Büyükakın in Hatay Defne. Following a visit to the hospital established by Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality in Hatay, inspections were carried out in the area where GEBKİM OSB has set up bungalow houses in Hatay Antakya. The GEBKİM Chairman also toured the tent city established by Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality in Hatay Defne. Sharing his impressions of Kahramanmaraş and Hatay, GEBKİM Kimya İhtisas OSB Chairman Vefa İbrahim Aracı noted that the earthquake caused major devastation in the region and said that as industrialists, they continue to do their part to address other needs, especially shelter. Stating that it will take time to erase the traces of the earthquake and for life to return to normal, Aracı said: "We pray for God's mercy on all our citizens who lost their lives in the earthquakes and wish speedy recovery to the injured. During this difficult period, all institutions and citizens of our country acted with exemplary solidarity and continue to do so. We saw this during our visits to Kahramanmaraş and Hatay. Everyone has rolled up their sleeves. As GEBKİM industrialists who know well the pain of earthquakes, we will continue to stand with our earthquake victim citizens."