US, UK donating trash clothing for Turkey-Syria earthquake victims

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
20 Feb 2023 14:53
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Donors from the US and UK are sending "trash" like donations to Turkey-Syria survivors, according to reports.

Half empty makeup bottles sent to Turkey-Syria earthquake survivors. (Twitter)

US and UK donors are sending "trash" to Turkey and Syria, according to earthquake survivors. The shocking revelation came after it was discovered that approximately 20% of the donations were unfit for use.

Survivors shared pictures and videos on social media platforms showing used lingerie, sequinned tops, stained items and even 10-inch high-heels in a box of donated items.

I held it enough and I'm going to say this. I'm going through the pictures my cousin sent me of the donations made here in the US and folks, believe or not but EARTHQUAKE SURVIVORS IN TURKEY ARE NOT YOUR GARBAGE BIN. GET THIS INTO YOUR WESTERN SUPREMACIST AND ORIENTALIST HEADS. pic.twitter.com/cPPNmTssIs
— irem aydemir (@iremxyd) February 10, 2023

One of the comments read, “Clothing collection drop-offs are not a place where you can empty your trash. Those people also have pride. Does your conscience not hurt at all? It is enough for God’s sake. Please, enough.”

Inappropriate and unusable donations

The CEO of London-based Turkish Cypriot Community Association, Erim Metto, confirmed that a fifth of donations that they have received from UK are “inappropriate” and “unusable”.

“We were very clear about what donations we would accept. We did say we would not accept any inappropriate clothing. For example, no thin-layer clothing, dresses or high heels,” Metto told Metro.

THIS! don’t donate ripped clothes, dirty underwear, or anything unwearable. donations to #TurkeySyriaEarthquake victims aren’t a trash can for your useless clothes!

—#Syria #SyriaNeedsHelp #Turkey #TurkeyEarthquake #SyriaTurkeyEarthquake https://t.co/ADZl1jHTGb
— alexander siu (@siushi) February 14, 2023

He said that donations go through a two-step cycling system where “second-hand” and no-good-for-anything” items are discarded, adding that “Our volunteers filter these through and they are discarded — for example, hygiene products that are only half-full and have been used.”

“Once we get through that first stage, anything that is again not appropriate for the location we are gathering donations for, but is still usable, we would package separately and give to Trade,” he explained.

Metto stated that approximately 20% of the items received by the organization were inappropriate, and that they did not send any of them. “But we are still sending items. For example, we just made two shipments of camping tents. That is how we are working,” he added.