6.8 magnitude earthquake rocks Turkey. Islamic Relief staff in Turkey alerted us to a powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the Elazig province just hours ago. Latest reports share that more than 1,000 people have been injured and at least 22 people were killed -- many of them as they were trying to escape collapsing buildings.
Millions of dollars’ worth of emergency assistance to more than 20 at-risk countries has been released by Islamic Relief (of which Islamic Relief USA is a part of) in a bid to stem the spread of the deadly Coronavirus, help those infected and support vulnerable communities that have been the hardest hit. Thousands of hygiene kits containing essentials like hand sanitizer, surgical masks and thermometers have already been delivered to high-risk communities in places like Syria and Afghanistan where vital health infrastructure has crumbled due to conflict.
Seventy members of Congress from across the United States have shared video messages and letters of recognition with Islamic Relief USA, expressing their “Ramadan Mubarak!” greetings and commending the Islamic Relief family for its humanitarian and advocacy work. IRUSA thanks them for their engagement with the Muslim community and their recognition of this blessed season.
We've already reached the half-way point of this month where we strive for piety and righteousness! And you have made it a remarkable 15 days. Look at some of what we've achieved together.
TURNING IDEAS INTO ACTION
With so many people restricted to working from home and practicing social distancing, IRUSA answered your call and created a whole channel of online events and programs via IRUSA Live, including: Ramadan Reflections - The Prophets Series; 30 for 30 - Fitness Workout with Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady; Digital Kids Camp with Noor Kids, Cooks for a Cause, The Ten, and more.
WORKING GLOBALLY
Islamic Relief donors have provided food aid and hygiene kits containing essentials like hand sanitizer, surgical masks, and thermometers to high-risk communities in places like Syria and Afghanistan where vital health infrastructure has crumbled due to conflict.
And you've done so much more: You've helped those suffering from thirst get water; orphans get support; and widows gain opportunities to create a livelihood for themselves and their families; and on and on.
YOUR SUPPORT MAKES A DIFFERENCE
Because of your generosity and support, IRUSA is able to implement these programs and many more to help our sisters and brothers in need around the world.
If you have NOT made a donation this Ramadan, it’s not too late! And if you have, then a Ramadan Jummah is a great day to increase your sadaqah.
$50 can provide a family with a Ramadan food package
$100 can provide rice and meal essentials for five families
$500 helps give financial assistance to our vulnerable neighbors affected by COVID-19
By Viviann Anguiano - Maya is an undocumented student activist enrolled at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) as a sociology and labor studies major. Her parents are undocumented and have lost their jobs due to shutdowns caused by the coronavirus pandemic. While Maya’s family’s unexpected struggles resemble many families’ across the country right now, her family is not eligible to receive the stimulus checks that the U.S. government is disbursing as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Maya recently paid her family’s rent with the money she received from a private $1,000 scholarship.
Turkish American women saw one political success story so far this year with the election of Aycha Sawa as City Comptroller of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, last month. Aycha is the 12th Turkish American elected to public office, and the first Turkish American woman elected as the chief financial officer for a major American city. She is also the second woman elected as a city official in Milwaukee.
The highly successful molecular biology professor, Ivet Bahar, has been elected a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the world’s most prestigious science academy, for her scientific research.
The U.S. National Academy of Sciences, whose headquarters are located in Washington, honored 120 scientists in the USA and 26 scientists outside the USA by electing them as members this year.
Following the announcement made, as of April 27, those elected bring the total number of active members to 2,403 and the total number of international members to 501. Professor Bahar continues her research as the Founding President and Distinguished Professor in the Department of Computational and Systems Biology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
Bahar is known for her theoretical and computational models, which she developed to explain the functional dynamics of biological systems on a molecular scale, signal transmission, and regulation among neurons, their alignment, and functions in proteins.
TCA's Chairman and Founder, Dr. Yalcin Ayasli, was a keynote speaker and recipient of the 2020 Ataturk Society of America Ataturk Distinguished Humanitarian Award at the 100th Anniversary of National Sovereignty & Children's Day and the inauguration of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.
By Beth Dedman - amNewYork - Chobani has redirected the focus of their Chobani Café in SoHo into a temporary food pantry, where employees are giving away free Chobani products beginning April 28. The café will open twice a week for the foreseeable future to give free products and support families and food bank workers. The Café food pantry is staffed by Chobani Café employees and volunteers from the #BeAShepherd initiative. Chobani is the Turkish word for “shepherd” and inspired the “giving back” values Chobani wants to embody at this time.
Wattozz Holdings Inc., a Turkish-US joint defense company, will be listed in the New York-based Nasdaq stock market, Turkish conglomerate Albayraklar Holding announced on Monday. Last week, the US-based energy firm Enerkon purchased 20% of shares of Albayraklar Defense, a subsidiary of Albayraklar Holding, and the two sides established Wattozz Holdings Inc. in the US, according to Nasdaq's website.
Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), the global aerospace and national security leader owned by Eren and Fatih Ozmen, is on track to meet customer milestones and, in navigating the extreme circumstances of the pandemic, is now deploying resources toward identifying and meeting employee and community needs. These include production of personal protective equipment (PPE) for health care workers, matching employee charitable contributions and maximizing time-off flexibility and other benefits for its workforce of more than 4,000 highly-skilled employees.
![Erdogan told Trump that Turkey would continue to 'demonstrate solidarity in every way possible' with the US [File: Peter Nicholls/Pool/Reuters]](https://www.aljazeera.com/mritems/imagecache/mbdxxlarge/mritems/Images/2020/4/21/b6abf5cda1c640c7b1ceb2784612287c_18.jpg)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised to stand in solidarity with the United States in its struggle against the coronavirus pandemic as it recovers from the outbreak. In a letter sent to President Donald Trump, Erdogan also said he was following "with appreciation" the US president's efforts to control the outbreak. The letter was sent on Tuesday along with a planeload of personal protective equipment that Turkey donated to the US. It was made public on Wednesday. "I hope that this humble assistance will assist your fight against this pandemic and contribute to the speedy recuperation of your citizens who contracted this virus," Erdogan wrote.
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — A second Turkish military plane took off from an air base near Ankara on Thursday carrying more medical aid to the United States which has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. The cargo plane is carrying a second consignment of personal protective equipment, including masks, hazmat suits and disinfectants, the Defense Ministry announced. Turkey also dispatched a planeload of medical supplies on Tuesday that included 500,000 surgical masks, 4,000 overalls, 2,000 liters (528 gallons) of disinfectant, 1,500 goggles, 400 N-95 masks and 500 face shields.
ANKARA (Reuters) - A Turkish military plane carrying medical supplies and protective equipment was heading for the United States on Tuesday to deliver aid to its NATO ally battling the coronavirus outbreak. The United States, which has the highest death toll and reported cases in the global pandemic, welcomed the “generous donation” of 500,000 surgical masks, 4,000 overalls, as well as disinfectant, goggles and face shields. “We are proud to announce that Turkey will deliver medical supplies to the United States, upon our NATO ally’s request, to support America’s fight against the coronavirus,” Turkey’s Communications Directorate said.
