Aid work continues in Turkey by Helena woman and Hands On Global

A 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck southern Turkey and northern Syria on Feb. 6, killing nearly 55,000 people and leaving 1.5 million homeless.

She is making her fourth trip overseas to areas in need since Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. She left Helena on Sept. 4 and plans to spend five weeks overseas. She started this trip in Ukraine, but was rerouted to Turkey to set up a mobile clinic. This email from Hellermann arrived 10:45 a.m. Thursday.

Our teams are moving around, truly mobile clinics.

Two days ago we set up our clinic in a schoolyard where the school had been partially collapsed.

People all over this community are living in tents outside their houses or apartments. Even the buildings that are standing are severely or dangerously damaged.

Then in the afternoon we met with an Egyptian man married to a Syrian woman who were “camp leaders” at a Syrian camp of 1,500.

They set up the camp without any help from the Turkish government so the police stay away. It was in the Arab section of Anatakya and before the earthquake there were 50,000 Syrians there.

Some recent refugees from the war and some (others) settled years ago. This section was devastated by the earthquake, collapsed buildings and rubble all over.

There are 4 showers and 4 bathrooms for all these people. There are 3 sets of 4 water spigots for water. It is questionable if this is safe drinking water

We went there yesterday. There was a plethora of scabies, impetigo, ringworm, infected insect bites and fungus infections in kids and adults.

The result of poor hygiene in such deplorable conditions.

Our pediatrician is with us, treating mostly skin infections, diarrhea, respiratory. We did see a young child with a prosthetic arm that was non functional. And a child with thalassemia a Mediterranean anemia that is fatal.

These people were so kind and so appreciative.

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