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By Parasuram Das
The Lord Mayor of Sanliufa, Zaynel Abidin Beyazgul, joyfully welcomed us “what took you so long?”, he didn’t realise that we just drove 3,000 miles. He immediately had the police escort our vans into the protected location where the kitchen was to be located. Then the surprise came, our own rooms, basic but comfortable, even laid on hot tea for us, we were anticipating camping out in the snow. Zaynel is a man of action, a hand’s on Mayor ready to mix with his people in times of crisis. (Photo attached of Loka Saranga Prabhu shaking hands with Zaynel).
Also another photo Arjuna Prabhu being greeted by the Mayor)
The Earthquake has directly impacted 23 million people in Turkey. The city of Sanliurfa has a population of over 2 million people, and experienced some of the worst devastation, the epicentre of the first earthquake was very close, because it’s the biggest city in the area it has attracted hundreds of thousands of homeless people that are now living in tents or huddled up outside in the open air.
The towns surrounding Sanliurfa resemble scenes from a Hollywood disaster movie.
In Turkey 31,974 were reported dead and 5,800 in Syria. Emergency services were still trying to find living people in the rubble but it’s very unlikely. 14 countries sent 3,294 teams to assist in the crisis.
The morning after the Earthquake struck we had been requested by King Charles’s Lord Lieutenant to get into action.
Food for All is the official name of our Prasad Distribution team, we received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service twice before the Queen passed away.
Photo attached of King Charles’s Lord Deputy Lieutenant Vinod Tailor MBE and Parasuram Das putting plans into action.
Today our team leaders headed by Arjuna Prabhu met with 15 charities that are very eager to receive our meals and distribute them to the most in need, we were also requested to provide lunch once a day for the emergency services.
The demand is massive, we will be cooking non stop in shifts. Vegan meals have been requested as it is considered Halal friendly, we are adjusting the menu to suit the local population. Syrian cooks are coming to help us to sort a menu for Syrian taste as thousands of Syrians are crossing the border daily. There is a civil war in Syria which is seriously hampering aid going into the country. At present we only have 20 devotees on site but by Thursday, tomorrow, we are expecting more devotees who are flying in from the UK.
We wanted to thank all the kind support from the devotees worldwide, the response has been overwhelming. School children from Watford raised £4,200, big sacrifice. Photo attached.
It’s our first day so intense and not over yet, Jai Srila Prabhupada Param vijayate sri-krsna-sankirtanam
In 1987 Hari Sauri Prabhu and Parasuram Das were the Prasad distribution team in London. Going out in the evenings feeding the homeless. He explained how his relatives visited Bhaktivedanta Manor. Hari Sauri Prabhu stayed back to look after them and even sold them a Bhagavad Gita. Srila Prabhupada asked if they took Prasad. No, Srila Prabhupada gave a wave of disappointment, as much as to say ” what’s the point”.
Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=106267
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