The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has united in heart and soul to assist efforts to recover from last Monday’s devastating earthquake in Türkiye which has resulted in the death of over 30,000 people and injured more than 200,000.

Over 40 civil society organisations have formed the “Cyprus Turkish Solidarity Platform” and with the support of the government have signed a protocol for the construction of 1000 container homes for the earthquake survivors.

Prime Minister Ünal Üstel said that should the families of the Turkish Cypriot children killed in Adıyaman accept it; the container city will be named “Turkish Cypriot Champions Angels Village.”

The TRNC has rolled up its sleeves to assist Türkiye recover from the earthquake.

Over 40 chambers, associations, societies and federations joined forces on Monday, setting up the Cyprus Turkish Solidarity Platform to help the earthquake victims.

A protocol was signed with the Prime Ministry for the construction of a container city.

Speaking at the meeting, the head of the Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Industry said that donations collected for the earthquake victims will be used to build 1000 container homes.

He called on the public to donate to the platform.

Prime Minister Ünal Üstel for his part pointed out that the TRNC, together with Türkiye, was in a state of mourning.

He said that the government was fully supporting the initiative launched by the platform and that all donations collected by the state will be used for the construction of the container city.

“The 1000 homes we plan to build will provide a warm home for over 5000 people,” said Üstel adding that they had plans to name the city, “Turkish Cypriot Champions Angels village” if the families of the children who perished found it suitable.

The prime minister added that it was a time for unity and solidarity.

Also speaking, President Ersin Tatar said that the TRNC was experiencing great pain and sorrow.

“This is the disaster of the century for us. Our children and their teachers perished under the rubble,” he said, adding that the TRNC had gone through an important test in terms of preparedness for search and rescue efforts.