MSC to Provide Earthquake Relief in Turkey and Syria

MSC to Provide Earthquake Relief in Turkey and Syria

MSC Virtuosa arriving into Southampton photo credit Spacejunkie2 (Flickr)

The MSC Group and the MSC Foundation have organized an urgent response to support the population in the aftermath of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria.

The company is closely coordinating with the Turkish authorities, the Italian Foreign Ministry and the Vatican while one of its ferries, departed from the Port of Naples on February 16 heading towards the port of Iskenderun (Alexandretta).

“We feel a strong sense of obligation to act promptly in order to support the people most in need by all means. We are part of a global organization that can set in motion a large-scale operation by involving foundations and associations that we collaborate with all around the world,” said Daniela Picco, executive director of the MSC Foundation.

“As soon as the terrible earthquake in Türkiye and Syria struck, we immediately took action to collect funds, supplies and food, which we can deliver on our ships within a short period of time. This is where the valuable collaboration with the Francesca Rava Foundation comes in, and we thank you for immediately joining this initiative.

“The departure of MSC Aurelia from the port of Naples is an initial example of what we are doing, while we keep on working to provide associations and governments with what we can, so that by sea and by land some comfort can reach those who are presently living in dire situations and, in the future, for the rebuilding of cities and the environment. It is not the first time that the MSC Foundation and the MSC Group have been on the front lines of emergency relief operations: in 2022, we provided extraordinary funding worth millions of euros to offer aid to refugees from Ukraine and led eight emergency relief initiatives in nine countries, strengthening our global emergency capabilities,” added Picco.

The MSC Aurelia was loaded with basic necessities and first aid items that the MSC Group and the MSC Foundation have collected, together with the Rava Foundation. 

The cargo onboard included 60 pallets of medical supplies, food, hygiene items, warm clothing and blankets, as well as toys and crayons for children. Additionally,  50 boxes of thermal shirts are being carried on behalf of the Vatican.

When it arrived, the MSC Aurelia served as emergency accommodation, providing those impacted by the earthquake with over 1,000 beds as well as a restaurant and cinema and video-game entertainment for children.

The MSC Foundation is also collaborating with the UN Refugee Agency to ship an additional 100 containers carrying first aid supplies including blankets, mattresses, sleeping bags, kitchen sets, jerry cans and lamps from Jordan via Haifa, the headquarters of the UN Refugee Agency’s warehouses. The items will reach Gaziantep and other cities that were hit the hardest by the earthquake.

Puerto Rico emphasizes that tourism infrastructure is intact

 
San Juan's busy cruise port on Jan. 8.

Puerto Rico is open for tourism. That’s the message from Discover Puerto Rico CEO Brad Dean, who reported that San Juan welcomed close to 15,000 visitors from three cruise ships on Jan. 9.

A state of emergency remains in place in southwestern Puerto Rico, which was impacted by earthquakes on Jan. 6 and 7. “Travelers should not be dissuaded by the state of emergency. Gov. Wanda Vazquez has kept that in a place to continue to ensure that those in need receive adequate government funding and support,” Dean said.

 

Dean said power in Old San Juan has been fully restored. “It’s business as usual at all major hotels,” Dean said.

Flights are operating normally to and from airports in San Juan, Ponce and Aguadilla. Taxi and rideshare options are available. Ferry services to and from Vieques and Culebra are running. 
The Ponce cruise port, the Puerto Rico Convention Center and major attractions such as El Morro, El Yunque, San Cristobal Fort and all areas around San Juan are open for business.

Two tourism sites, Punta Ventana in Guayanilla and the Ruins of the Lighthouse in Guanica reported damage, along with several hotels and many homes and businesses in southwestern Puerto Rico.

Deadly earthquake rocks the Philippines

At least three people are reported to have been killed as an earthquake struck the southern Philippines on Sunday.

The 6.9 magnitude quake occurred in Davao Del Sur province on the island of Mindanao.

The country’s second-largest island is a popular tourist destination.

Videos posted on social media showed hotel swimming pools overflowing and mass evacuations of people from shopping centres, CNN reported.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office warned that transportation throughout the area may be disrupted.

“A number of aftershocks have been reported,” the FCO said in updated travel advice.

“If you’re in Davao Del Sur, or are planning to travel to the area, you should be careful of aftershocks, monitor local media for up-to-date information and follow the advice of local authorities.

“You should check with transportation companies for any changes or cancellations of schedule.”

A previous series of 6.6 and 6.5-magnitude quakes struck Mindanao in October, killing 14 and injuring more than 400.