Türkiye's earthquake aid campaign raises over $5B

By Gokhan Ergocun

ISTANBUL (AA) - Türkiye's new campaign for earthquake victims, named Türkiye One Heart, raised almost 100 billion Turkish liras ($5.3 billion) within two hours, as of 9.15 p.m. local time (1815GMT).

Companies, institutions, organizations, and individuals make donations to the campaign via a joint live broadcast through 200 television and 500 radio channels,

So far, the Turkish Central Bank made the highest donation worth 30 billion Turkish liras ($1.6 billion), followed by the state-run lenders Ziraat with 20 billion liras ($1 billion), Vakif with 12 billion ($637 million) liras and Halk with 7 billion liras ($371.3 million).

The country's GSM operators Turkcell and Turk Telekom donated 3.5 billion liras ($185.6 million) and 2 billion liras ($106 million), respectively.

Turkish conglomerates Cengiz Holding and Kalyoncular Holding donated 2.5 billion Turkish liras ($132.6 million) and 950 million liras ($50.4 million), respectively.

Türkiye's Saving Deposit Insurance Fund, Borsa Istanbul, and Türkiye Sigorta donated 2 billion liras ($106 million) each.

The country's aviation firm Baykar and flag carrier Turkish Airlines donated 2 billion liras ($106 million) each.

The donations collected via the campaign will be sent to the country's Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) and the Turkish Red Crescent Society.

The campaign is ongoing.