Türkiye (formerly Turkey) and Syria face a massive challenge in recovering from this month’s devastating earthquake.

According to media reports, aid groups and logistics operators worldwide are ramping up urgent relief efforts for victims of the earthquakes but they are facing significant difficulties because of the devastation of infrastructure throughout the region.

Supply chain risk management company Everstream Analytics warns that attempts to clean up rubble or repair structural damage are unpredictable. “With the crisis far from over, those doing business in Türkiye should anticipate further disruptions to business and logistics operations in the coming weeks, particularly in southern Türkiye,” an advisor tells Forkliftaction News.

“The exact extent of damage to the road network in southern Türkiye remains unclear amid ongoing rescue operations. However, with widespread structural damage confirmed in almost a dozen provinces, and more than 5,000 buildings destroyed by the earthquake, severe road transport disruptions should be anticipated in the coming days until clean-up operations can begin clearing the rubble and repair roads in affected areas,” Everstream adds.

The global Red Cross and Red Crescent are spearheading the current humanitarian efforts in Türkiye and Syria.

“The level of pain and suffering is immense and the need for support is equally enormous. This humanitarian response is not a sprint. It is a marathon. We call on the international community to support the people of Syria and Türkiye not just in the coming days, but also in the months and years needed for recovery,” says Jagan Chapagain, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) secretary general.

Forkliftaction News has attempted to contact forklift dealers and distributors in Türkiye, but so far without success.

Clark Europe confirms that its importer in Istanbul is not directly affected. “However, there are two dealers from our sub-dealer network in the earthquake region. The regular business of these dealers is suspended at the moment, as all employees are currently working in the local rescue and relief service,” a spokeswoman tells Forkliftaction News.

Toyota Material Handling corporate communications director Jonas Lindell says his company is represented in Türkiye by independent distributor Toyota Istif Makineleri, which has three branches and four official dealers, with a total of 95 employees. “As safety of people is our foremost priority, we have been in constant contact with them since the earthquakes, and they are all safe and out of harm; however, of course, affected in different ways by what has happened.

“We are in a continuous dialogue with our colleagues in Türkiye on how we best can support them and the country in this situation and going forward,” Lindell adds.

KION group spokesman Frank Grodzki says as far as he knows so far, “the KION Group has not been affected by the disaster in the earthquake zone”.

“To help people in this desperate situation, KION is supporting the fundraising campaign of the German Red Cross, which is currently working closely with its sister (organisations) in Türkiye and Syria. The KION Group will match the donations made by our employees.

“If required, the KION Group will also provide the Red Cross with industrial trucks to support humanitarian aid in disaster areas,” he says.

In addition, KION is providing up to 10 days of paid leave for employees who want to take part in the humanitarian aid effort on the ground.

Toyota Industries Corporation in Japan was quick to respond to the crisis, donating EUR100,000 (USD107,000) to aid victims of the earthquakes.

“Toyota Industries sincerely expresses its deepest sympathies to all those affected by the disaster and extends its warmest wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured,” president Akira Onish says in a statement.

Clark Europe is currently planning a delivery of relief goods to the earthquake region in Türkiye. This consists mainly of outdoor and survival equipment, according to Sabine Barde, head of corporate communications.

On the ground in Türkiye, local businesses have stepped up for emergency relief operations, with the Turkish Enterprise and Business Confederation (TüRKONFED) and the OCHA-UNDP Connecting Business initiative (CBi) mobilising more than 54,000 Turkish businesses to provide in-kind contributions, critical equipment and logistics services to the affected areas.

In addition, CBi Member Networks from around the world are providing additional in-kind support and deploying search and rescue experts.

TüRKONFED has set up an emergency centre and crisis hotline to coordinate requests for support from local businesses and has launched a domestic in-kind donations campaign. To donate or assist, visit the appeal site.