The Irish aid agency GOAL is now reporting that 28 of its workers have been confirmed dead following last week's massive earthquakes in southern Turkey and northern Syria.
In addition, GOAL is reporting that many of their families have also perished.
Two of the GOAL workers died in Turkey and 26 were killed in Syria. Goal said a small number of staff in the stricken regions have not yet been accounted for.
According to GOAL and as reported in the Irish Times, fourteen of the workers died in the Syrian city of Harem. Among them was emergency program manager Mohammed Othman (40), who died alongside his wife and five children when the building they were living in collapsed. GOAL described Othman as “a sympathetic, friendly and kind-hearted” person.
Othman's colleague, deputy field logistics manager Mohammed Bostaji (36), died with his wife and four children when their home collapsed. “Mohammad was loved by others, co-operative, committed and successful in his work, with a high degree of respect and humbleness,” Goal said.
According to Ed Kennedy of the GOAL office in New York, an online Book of Condolence has been launched in partnership with the Irish times.
The Book of Condolence includes biographies and photos of the lost GOAL workers.
The link for the Book of Condolence is https://www.irishtimes.com/world/middle-east/2023/02/15/a-deeply-personal-disaster-goal-pays-tribute-to-28-staff-killed-in-turkey-syria-earthquake/?utm_campaign=Turkey%20Syria%20Earthquake&utm_content=238306320&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin&hss_channel=lcp-1189538
