CIAC Organises Street Fundraising for Turkey-Syria Earthquake Zone

The Chinese Information and Advice Center (CIAC) in the UK organised a street fundraising event for the Turkey-Syria earthquake zone in London's Chinatown on February 19th. The event received a positive response from more than 20 Chinese community organisations, charities, and individuals who participated in the activity. At least 35 volunteers helped with street fundraising, raising nearly £10,000 to assist earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria.

Group photo of participants at the event. (Photo provided by the organiser)

The earthquake, which occurred on February 6th, had a magnitude of 7.8 and affected over 9 million people in the disaster zone, according to the Turkish government's data. As of the 16th, approximately 45,000 people have unfortunately lost their lives. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a statement on the 16th, calling on the international community to donate $1 billion to assist earthquake victims in Turkey.

Due to logistical reasons, the focus of this fundraising event was on raising cash rather than physical donations, with the money raised directly donated to the disaster emergency committee established by the Turkish government. The event received support from many Chinese associations, media, clubs, etc. The Sino-British Opera Association, UK Jiangmen Wuyi Association, UK Jiangmen Wuyi Youth Federation, UK Jiangmen Wuyi Chamber of Commerce, UK Shanxi Chamber of Commerce, UK Hebei General Chamber of Commerce, UK Chinese Chartered Accountants Association, UK Taishan Association, UK Defu Chinese School, UK Huidong Baotong Association, Hunan Association, European Times, Kingston Chinese Association, London Gayun Garden Lions Club, Federation of Chinese Associations in the UK, East Asia Bank, and Tao Tao Ju sponsored the volunteers' lunch.

Selçuk Özcan, the Turkish Ambassador to the UK, expressed his gratitude for the fundraising event. Zakri Jaafar, the Malaysian High Commissioner, and his wife Datin Nor Aini, Tim Mitchell, a local councilor in Westminster, and many Conservative Party members from Ealing and Bexley districts also came to offer support. Mitchell stressed that rebuilding Turkey and Syria would take months or even years and that it was an important moment to help them. Tasks such as clearing debris, getting rid of danger, and transferring refugees would be very complex he said.

CIAC Chairman Yang Qingquan (left) and Tim Mitchell, a local councilor in Westminster (right)

Volunteers like Huang Qiyun, who has been living in the UK for 30 years and actively participating in public welfare activities, also participated in the fundraising event. Huang Qiyun left home at eight o'clock that day and invited his friends to help. Friends who could not attend the event also generously donated, hoping to help earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria get through this difficult time.