Lyon to Kahramanmaras: French woman drives her truck 4,300 km to bring aid

Gulfem Zengin, 24, delivers garments, mountain tools, pet meals, and medicines to the quake-hit Kahramanmaras province of Türkiye.

Gulfem Zengin took the journey from Lyon to Kapikule, the Turkish border crossing point in Edirne province on the border of Türkiye and Bulgaria. — Gulfem Zengin took the journey from Lyon to Kapikule, the Turkish border crossing level in Edirne province on the border of Türkiye and Bulgaria.
(AA)

A 24-year-old French girl has pushed her truck to Türkiye to ship help to the earthquake victims.

After listening to news concerning the twin earthquakes in southern Türkiye, Gulfem Zengin, a French nationwide born to Turkish immigrants, set out on a visit from the French metropolis of Lyon to Kahramanmaras in southern Türkiye.

“I felt very bad and very sad when I saw the news regarding the earthquakes,” Zengin, mentioned in entrance of the rubbles within the metropolis centre of Kahramanmaras.

“All my friends and family members cried for Türkiye following the earthquakes.”

She mentioned that Turkish immigrants contacted her for the supply of humanitarian help, including that she set out on her personal, taking a troublesome journey for the earthquake victims.

“It was something I had never done before. I was alone. It was impossible for me, but I thought this is about helping the victims. This is the help we can do. That’s why I put my fears aside.”

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She completed her around 4,300 kilometre-trip in four days. — She accomplished her round 4,300 kilometre-trip in 4 days.
(AA)

‘I felt disappointment and ache’

She took the journey from Lyon to Kapikule, the Turkish border crossing level in Edirne province on the border of Türkiye and Bulgaria.

Carrying meals, garments, medicines and pet meals collected from the French nationals born to Turkish immigrants, she first reached Kapikule after a two-day journey.

She arrived in Kahramanmaras on Saturday and delivered her help in coordination with Türkiye’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority.

“I arrived at Kahramanmaras by driving fast with little sleep. My family is proud of me. I sent videos to my family along the way to let them know I was okay,” Zengin mentioned.

“I felt sadness and pain when I saw the collapsed buildings. I delivered clothing, mountain equipment, pet food, and some medicine,” she added.

READ MORE: Türkiye quake survivor narrates how he lived off cigarettes beneath particles

4,300-kilometre journey

She was born in France and her household is initially from Yozgat. She doesn’t have any kinfolk or pals in Kahramanmaras.

She accomplished her round 4,300-kilometre journey in 4 days.

Asked how the opposite truck drivers handled her on the best way, Zengin mentioned that the drivers have been completely happy to see a girl driving a truck.

“If I made them happy, I’m happy … Most of them were also surprised when they saw me driving a truck.”

At least 40,689 individuals have been killed in two highly effective earthquakes that rocked southern Türkiye on Feb. 6, based on the most recent official figures.

The 7.7- and seven.6-magnitude earthquakes, centred within the Kahramanmaras province, affected greater than 13 million individuals throughout 11 provinces, together with Adana, Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye, Elazig and Sanliurfa.

In Syria, no less than 5,840 individuals have been killed within the lethal earthquakes.

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