Turkish volunteer doctors check Haiti orphans

Turkish charities and volunteer doctors are in Haiti for children's plight as IHH continues providing hot meals to 700 orphans and many poor people.

General surgeon Dr. Ali Alemdar and Dr Yavuz Girani, as well as emergency physician Dr. Ali Yalcin went to Haiti to wrap wounds after the devastating quake, Turkish relief group said in a statement sent to World Bulletin.

"Orphans checked for health screening one by one," it said.

Taking a long and difficult journey to Haiti, Turkish people and doctors try to ease the human tragedy that occurred in Haiti. IHH, Humanitarian Relief Foundation, have sent a team of 8 people to Haiti.

After 20 hours of journey and 2 days of waiting time, the team reached Haiti and began distribution of relief supplies that they brought from the Dominican Republic.

In the volunteer team, there are 3 specialist, Dr. Ali Alemdar and Dr Yavuz Girani, as well as emergency physician Dr. Ali Yalcin who started health checks and treatment as soon as they arrive in Haiti.

Doctors initially examined orphan children who are in IHH's care. Stating, he came to Haiti voluntarily, Dr Ali Alemdar said "I'm glad I came. We cannot leave these people alone. We are trying to rescue orphans from the streets, because the streets are filled with corpses."

"These kids may come across their father's or mother's corpses while walking in the streets."

"120 thousand people died. And the life is not easy for the survivors. A huge struggle waits for them. We're trying to treat the wounded. As we treat orphans, one's heart is bleeding, you think of your own child. May God never leave anyone as an orphan, "Dr. Yavuz Girani said.

Stating that thousands of wounded people wait for treatment, Dr. Ali Yalcin said "I'm afraid, if these people did not get the necessary help the death toll passes 100 thousand, even 200 thousand."

IHH provides hot meals to 700 orphans every day, as well as health screening. Prepared by chefs that IHH assigned, hot meals were distributed to orphaned children.

Orphan siblings who lost their mothers and fathers help each other. Organizing the aid work in Haiti, IHH representative Halil Demir said they continue efforts to find a safe place for these orphans to stay, as well as to establish a hospital and a soup kitchen.

IHH team member Mustafa Ozturk said the bodies still lie in the streets, even the earthquake happened days ago.

"Whereever we turn our heads, we see corpses that smell or were burnt. Especially for children, this is a terrible environment. Earthquake survivors struggle for life. People want food and water, expect more aid to come. Aid agencies were able to distribute relief supplies if they accompanied by security forces. There is a serious security problem in here. We are taking the advantage of being crowded as the IHH teams.

We're total of 50 people, our aid work continues. Our goal is to find a hospital, a secure building that can accommodate orphans and a soup kitchen, "he said.

/World Bulletin/