Turkcell (NYSE:TKC, ISE: TCELL), a communications and technology company in Turkey has announced on the first anniversary of Van’s 7.2 magnitude earthquake that it continues to lend a helping hand to earthquake victims in the Van province, who continue to struggle with the devastating effects of the earthquake.

Donations to “Turkey’s Money-Box”, the education campaign initiated by Turkcell with a donation of TRY5 million, has now reached TRY9.5 million.  Supported by the Ministry of Education (MEB) and in partnership with the Turkish Education Foundation (TEV), our donation was used to build a 132 person dormitory for high school students, where they stay and utilize their leisure time productively in a youth-friendly, steel constructed and earthquake resistant facility. It also went towards providing scholarships for 100 notably successful students, as well as building a 192 person teacher campus, shortly ready for teachers to move into.

Turkcell has also created employment opportunities for the disabled through a call center project initiated in Van in collaboration with Turksat and in support of the Ministry of Education (MEB). In line with Turkcell Group’s approach to people; with a particular focus on physically challenged individuals; Turkcell Global Bilgi employs 100 people in Van, half of whom are disabled.

Additionally, they have also informed their customers about calling the 112 and 155 emergency numbers, which subsequently received almost 10,000 text messages.  And having directed these texts to the Republic of Turkey Prime Ministry Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency and the Health and Disaster Coordination Center, they have helped locate people in need and saved many lives.  Indeed, out of 65 people in critical condition that were called by Turkcell; 57 were reached ; enabling Turkcell to save lives.

  Turkcell has made it a top priority to ensure that all networks and mobile communications are running in this area without disruption.  Having the largest network in Van with 230 2G and 3G base stations, Turkcell continued to serve with more than 200 base stations in the area, despite quadrupling traffic following the earthquake due to increased cell phone usage right after the incident. They immediately teamed up with 200 people to support the network and ensure seamless communication.  Currently, Turkcell is the sole operator with a Network Operation Center in Van, and it continues its efforts to expand its operation center.

Turkcell Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Koray Ozturkler commented that “In the first year of this natural disaster, I would once again like to express my sympathy to all the families of the victims in Van.  We have stood shoulder to shoulder with all the people struggling with the unfolding and devastating effects of the earthquake from the outset.  We have used our technology, base stations, and network to save lives.  Moreover, we have also asked ourselves “what else can be done” and have come up with the Turkey’s Money-Box for Van project.  We are proud of the achievement that this project has registered with the contribution of our citizens and corporates alike.  We sincerely hope that our country and its people never face such disasters again.”