Citizens of Kazakhstan organized a fundraiser to build nearly 100 yurts as temporary shelter for those who lost their homes after the earthquake in Turkiye, QazMonitor reports.
To aid earthquake victims in Turkiye and Syria, Kazakhstan’s government pledged to send $1 million in humanitarian aid to Turkiye and support to the Syrian side through the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
Volunteers in Kazakhstan are also taking the initiative to organize donations of funds and necessary items, like food, clothes and toiletries.
Journalist Nurbek Bekbau shared data on the fundraising efforts for the construction of yurts in Turkish cities.
“We were able to raise ₸20,000,000 and have already transferred the money for the purchase of 45 yurts. It costed ₸17,300,000. For the remaining sum, we plan to buy household goods,” says Bekbau.
The journalist also reported that several Kazakh entrepreneurs have supported the idea and purchased another 50 yurts.
To oversee the construction of the yurts in the city of Kahramanmarash, he and twelve other volunteers flew to Turkiye. A few days later, Bekbau posted a few update videos reviewing the first constructions in the city.
“I heard that it gets much colder after the earthquake. [And] it’s very cold outside. We are staying overnight in a yurt we’ve built to check how warm it is inside,” he explained.
According to Bekbau, one yurt can accommodate about twenty people, but it still needs to be equipped with heaters, an electric stove, and blankets.