Padre Ángel and Mensajeros de la Paz in Kahramanmaraş, the epicenter of the earthquake

• “We felt an aftershock this morning; we could feel the ground trembling beneath our feet. But we were there, kissing and blessing the fire chief who rescued a 12-year-old child after being buried for 72 hours. We have witnessed the firefighters’ efforts in saving lives. A big applause to all the firefighters who rescue lives day and night,” Padre Ángel tells us with emotion.
• “It’s a mix of emotions, witnessing the joy of rescuing unharmed individuals, the tireless work, and, on the other hand, the desperation of people with missing relatives. Seeing many people living on the streets in tents around a fire due to the intense cold,” Sergio Mella, General Director of Mensajeros de la Paz, shares.

Friday, February 10, 2023. In the early hours of February 6, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake shook Turkey and Syria. The epicenter was located near Kahramanmaras, in south-eastern Turkey, just a few kilometers from Syria. Unfortunately, the critical first 72 hours have already passed, which are crucial for rescuing survivors.

A small delegation from Mensajeros de la Paz, led by its president and founder, Padre Ángel, traveled to Turkey on the evening of Wednesday, February 8, with humanitarian aid supplies to assess the situation first-hand, accompany the victims, and evaluate further actions.

“We felt an aftershock this morning; we could feel the ground trembling beneath our feet. But we were there, kissing and blessing the fire chief who rescued a 12-year-old child after being buried for 72 hours. We have witnessed the firefighters’ efforts in saving lives. A big applause to all the firefighters who rescue lives day and night. My voice joins that of the Pope: in these moments, we need compassion and to stop fighting so much. Let’s help Syria and Turkey without forgetting Ukraine. And so many other conflicts and suffering,” Padre Ángel expressed.

Padre Ángel and the delegation from Mensajeros de la Paz have visited a logistics center, a rescue coordination center with volunteers from around the world, and a center for earthquake victims. They have also witnessed several search and rescue operations.

“It’s a mix of emotions, witnessing the joy of rescuing unharmed individuals, the tireless work, and, on the other hand, the desperation of people with missing relatives. Seeing many people living on the streets in tents around a fire due to the intense cold,” says Sergio Mella, General Director of Mensajeros de la Paz.

Currently, Mensajeros de la Paz is collaborating with other NGOs already on the ground, including Bomberos Unidos Sin Fronteras (Firefighters Without Borders), among others. Firefighters, rescue dogs, food tents, mattresses, and emergency supplies are being provided, along with a mobile emergency convoy consisting of a mobile kitchen, ambulance, 4×4 vehicle, multipurpose caravans, and a group of volunteer co-operators.

Financial collaboration remains crucial, and any assistance is appreciated. If you want to contribute, you can do so through a form on their website: https://mensajerosdelapaz.com/terremoto/. You can also make donations through a bank transfer to ES34 2100 2503 1913 0149 8842 or using Bizum 38072.

Mensajeros de la Paz was founded in 1962 under the name “Cruz de los Ángeles,” with a special focus on children and youth. Currently, it operates more than 50 projects in 75 countries and provides assistance to various vulnerable and socially excluded groups.