“My hometown no longer exists” – Basler lift fundraiser for earthquake victims Ukraine is running out of men and ammunition – will the leopard come in time?

When the magnitude 7.7 earthquake hit his home village of Pazarcik at 4am, Sabri Catar was “deeply asleep” 3,300 km away. The 38-year-old Kurd only heard about the disaster from his mother, who lives in Basel, in the morning. It’s not just depriving his family of their livelihood: “Virtually everyone in my area in Basel is affected,” says Katar. After all, most people of Turkish-Kurdish origin living in Basel come from the worst affected villages of Pazarcik, Elbistan and Narli.

They all fear relatives – buried, missing and waiting for helpsays Catar, who works at his brother Ahmet’s company MTS Patient Transport at 80 Walkeweg. Within a few hours, the two put together a collection of material. We meet Catar on the spot, just before eight o’clock in the evening.

More and more affected people follow his appeal on social media and want to help their families and their home villages in this way. Every minute cars stop in front of the garage, fathers of families carry bags of shoes, clothes and winter coats. The material is poorly packed, partly in garbage bags or sacks: it had to be done quickly.

Endure at minus two degrees: the onset of winter makes the situation unbearable

Two young women help sort and write down the boxes. ‘My uncle had to wait for three hours next to his dead neighbours’, says a young woman from Basel who ties a pair of shoes together with adhesive strips. The shock is also written on her face. We learn from a young mother who still has no sign of life from her parents.

The whole community is helping, says Catar happily and hugs a friend who bought 20 boxes of diapers in a short period of time. “Do you need toys too?” someone asks. Catar denies: for now what it takes to survive.

And in addition to baby food, diapers and medicines, these are mainly warm coats and shoes. Because: the region was hit by the onset of winter, there is minus two degrees and snowfall. Most of those affected stay outside in their pajamas, the earthquake surprised them at night. “My family has been in the car for hours,” said Catar, whose father was rescued from the rubble of his home. He’s now in the hospital undergoing emergency surgery, Catar says sobbing, “My dad can’t feel his legs anymore.” He was the only survivor in his house.

He shows us videos that a friend made. “My native village of Pazarcik no longer exists,” he says, scrolling across the screen with trembling fingers. The shaky images show destroyed houses and villages collapsing like boxes – with endless suffering in between. “I heard people calling for help on the phone and saw small children lying lifeless in their parents’ arms.”says Catar, who also flies home as soon as possible to help.

In addition to the humanitarian disaster, there is also a political one

His voice breaks, he cries, struggles to keep his composure – the worst part is the helplessness. Because in addition to the humanitarian catastrophe, it is also a political one: it is believed that the aid that was so needed in the first hours arrives so slowly because of political inconsistencies. The affected population is mostly a pro-Alevi and pro-Kurdish community.

Within hours, the mountain of relief supplies has grown to a considerable amount. With this you can fill the 18-tonne truck of the planter AG, which leaves the Dreispitz in the evening. The Green National Council doubts it will arrive within 48 hours, as Catar hopes Sibel Arslan. You have had bad experiences after the last natural disasters – the delivery has to pass some checks.

Due to the political situation, these are often not settled in favor of the suppliers: “I therefore consciously refrain from collecting material.” All permits have been obtained, but Catar, confident that the delivery will arrive soon, replies, “My family is already waiting.” (bzbasel.ch)