Ambassador of 'goodness'

Berfin Kolcu, a student of Izmir University of Economics (IUE) Department of Physics, went to Hatay, where thousands of people were under the rubble after the earthquake, and rushed to the aid of the victims with her ‘bike’. Reaching places where cars cannot enter with her electric bike, which can carry a load of 50 kilograms thanks to the trailer behind her, Kolcu carried many aid materials such as supplies, blankets and clothes to hundreds of people. Kolcu, who arrived in Hatay on the fourth day of the earthquake, stayed there for 5 days and returned to Izmir, went to the same region for the second time last Thursday. Currently in Hatay, Kolcu said, “I will never forget the pain I witnessed here, the destruction and desperation people went through. I hope we never experience such a painful disaster again.”

More than 44 thousand people lost their lives in the earthquakes, the epicenter of which was Kahramanmaraş and caused destruction in 10 cities. After the earthquake disaster, Turkey mobilized as a unity to deliver aid to the region. Berfin Kolcu, 4th year student at IUE Faculty of Arts and Sciences Department of Physics, who has been interested in cycling for a long time went to Hatay after the earthquake and took action to help the victims.

TRAVELED STREET BY STREET  

Kolcu took the aid materials, her bicycle and trailer with her and went from Izmir to Hatay by bus. Kolcu, who met with the cyclist team who came to Hatay from different cities of Turkey, called themselves the ‘BisiDestek’ group, started to deliver the aid materials sent to the region by the authorities, as well as the ones she brought with her, to those in need. Acting in coordination with the municipalities, non-governmental organizations and authorized institutions that brought aid to the region, Kolcu chose especially the neighborhoods where vehicles could not enter due to the debris. With the guidance of the authorities, Kolcu delivered aid such as food, clothing or hot meal to those in need by passing through neighborhoods filled with debris. Kolcu returned to Izmir after staying in Hatay for 5 days. However, Kolcu could not bear to be separated from the citizens in the earthquake zone any longer. Kolcu went to Hatay again last Thursday and still continues her aid in the region.

I SAW THE PAIN AND DESPAIR

Expressing that she will never forget what she experienced in Hatay as long as she lives, Berfin Kolcu said, “When I saw the destruction after the earthquake, I thought that I should do something for the people there. Since the school was also on a semester break, I decided to go to the area with my bike. I went to Hatay the week of the earthquake without wasting time. The destruction caused by the earthquake was more than I expected. It was like I was on the set of a horror movie and not in real life. People who have lost their families or jobs, those who are waiting for hopeful news from their relatives in the wreckage, those who cry in desperation, not knowing what to do; believe me, it's very hard to tell. You cannot understand by watching it on television or social media, you have to go there and see it for yourself. I learned what pain, sadness and despair are in Hatay. At the same time, for the first time, I realized how beautiful and valuable hope is.”

I CAN'T FORGET THOSE NICE PEOPLE

Kolcu continued as follows: “When I was going to Hatay, I took the aid materials I collected from people I know, with me. As soon as I arrived, I gave them to those in need. At the same time, many aid materials sent by the authorities had reached the region. However, at that time, there were still people trying to reach their relatives at the wreckage or waiting in front of their damaged houses. Although the main roads were clear, many neighborhoods and streets were inaccessible by car due to debris. I contacted the people who brought aid to the region and told them I could quickly deliver the collected aid to people with my bicycle. I started to deliver the supplies and clothes that I loaded on the trailer of my bicycle to those in need by going to the neighborhoods. It's such an environment where the only feeling you have is that you need to help more people. I acted with this awareness. I will never forget those nice people who hugged me and cried, and received help with embarrassment even in such a difficult situation. In Hatay, I understood what ‘no tears left to cry’ means. I hope we never experience such pain again.”

DAYS ARE PASSING BY BUT THE PAIN IS STILL FRESH

Stating that she is currently in Hatay, Kolcu said, “We continue to work in coordination with the competent authorities and under their guidance. We also have friends from all over Turkey who came with their bicycles to volunteer. We reach people both in the city center and in the villages with our bicycles. We carry medicine and various aid materials to them or we try to fulfill the demands of the people in the region. When they ask us for medicine, clothing or something special, we immediately contact the organizations here to fulfill it. We play games with the children. We focus on giving them hope and energy. When compared to the first week of the earthquake, the panic atmosphere is a little less. However, when there is the slightest aftershock, people worry, and think that a big earthquake is happening again. Days pass by, but the pain, in many people I spoke to, is still fresh.”

EVERYONE MUST DO THEIR BEST

Kolcu continued as follows: “When I returned to Izmir from Hatay, I felt very qualmed. I thought that I should go to Hatay again and help the people there. Being with the earthquake victims in Hatay right now is a good feeling for me in this respect. Even little help matters. Talking with a child there, having a conversation with a family, carrying a hot meal is also a help. Even if they cannot come to the region, everyone should continue to help earthquake victims as much as they can.”