American Jewish Committee Leader To Join Israeli, Turkish Prime Ministers In Dedicating Israeli-Built Village For Earthquake Victims

American Jewish Committee
Thursday, 21 October 1999

On Monday, October 24, American Jewish Committee Executive Director David A. Harris will inaugurate a school in Adapazari, Turkey, for children left homeless by the devastating earthquake that shook Turkey in August.

The AJC-funded school is part of a pre-fabricated village erected in less than two months by the Israeli government. The village, which will house at least 2,000 people, also contains basic services such as the school, a playground and retail store space.

The village will be dedicated Monday morning at 10 a.m. by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, Turkish Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit, and Mr. Harris.

The village is the first winter-proof housing project to be completed in Turkey since tens of thousands of people were left homeless by the powerful quake that killed more than 17,000.

Israel was one of the first countries to respond to the earthquake catastrophe with search and rescue teams. For two weeks, Israel also operated a field hospital in Adapazari until local health facilities were restored.

The American Jewish Committee has raised more than $500,000 for Turkish earthquake relief during the past two months. In addition to funding construction of the school, AJC donated relief funds to the American Red Cross, to the Jewish community in Turkey to help them in their efforts to provide humanitarian assistance, and to the Turkish Union in Berlin-Brandenburg in Germany, which is using the money for reconstruction projects in Turkey.

To raise additional funds for Turkish earthquake relief the American Jewish Committee, in cooperation with the Israeli and Turkish governments, is sponsoring a benefit concert in New York on Thursday, October 28. The concert, to be held at Temple Emanu-el, will feature prominent Israeli and Turkish music ensembles.

For more information, or to contact American Jewish Committee, see their website at: www.ajc.org