Turkey's largest licensed dried apricot warehouse was transformed into a logistics center in order to meet the needs of earthquake victims in Malatya more quickly and easily before it started operating. The facility, which plays an important role in the distribution of aid materials coming to the region; It ensures that materials such as hygiene, food, clothing and heating are sorted and delivered to disaster victims.
With the joint project of the European Union and the Ministry of Industry and Technology, the Malatya Licensed Dried Apricot Warehouse, whose construction is about to be completed, was turned into an aid base immediately after the earthquakes of 6 February. National and international aids sent to disaster areas are distributed from this center, which is made from the apricot warehouse.
Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank visited the center, the foundation of which was laid in 2019. Emphasizing that they have transformed the Malatya Licensed Dried Apricot Warehouse into an aid logistics center, Minister Varank said, “Before commissioning it, it was instrumental in such a good service. After he heals the wounds, he will return to his original duty.” said.
The Ministry of Industry and Technology established logistics centers throughout Turkey in order to deliver the supplies sent to earthquake victims to priority locations in a classified manner. Giant logistics centers were established in Kayseri, Adana and Gaziantep by the OIZs and the private sector under the coordination of the Ministry of Industry and Technology. Thousands of products arriving at these aid bases are categorized and loaded onto trucks.
Aid materials are delivered to the disaster victims through the Emergency Social Assistance Teams (ASIA) established by the Ministry of Family and Social Services. One of the centers created for a faster and more efficient disaster logistics was established in Malatya. Minister Varank visited the logistics center, which was converted from an apricot warehouse within the scope of the Malatya program, at night. Malatya Governor Hulusi Şahin, Malatya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Selahattin Gürkan, Malatya Deputy Öznur Çalık and Fırat Development Agency General Secretary Abdulvahap Yogunlu accompanied the visit, which took place at midnight.
LOGISTICS WAREHOUSE NEED
Minister Varank, who received information from the authorities about the works carried out, stated that the Ministry of Family and Social Policies is responsible for in-kind aids in the fight against natural disasters and that they also play an auxiliary role in the most efficient management of these aids, and the need for logistics warehouses in Malatya, one of the provinces affected by the earthquake, emerged. He said that the Licensed Dried Apricot Warehouse, which they had laid the foundations of before, came to the fore.
WE ARE OPEN TO US
Noting that this place is very important for the licensed storage of apricot, which is one of the most important products of Malatya, and for the producers to store their products for a certain period of time without suffering any damage, Varank said, “Before this warehouse is fully used, when this need arises, it is directly used by the Ministry of Family, AFAD. We are hungry.” said.
WE HELPED IN LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT
Varank stated that, under the coordination of AFAD, with the support of the Ministry of Industry and Technology, they established logistics warehouses in Kayseri, Adana and Gaziantep as well as Malatya, “We also helped all our ministries in logistics management. Here, our friends are working hard. Hopefully we will get through this disaster together. All our friends and all our ministries are making a great effort in the field to meet whatever needs of our citizens.” he said.
HE WILL RETURN TO THE FUNDAMENTAL DUTY
Emphasizing that they have transformed the Malatya Licensed Dried Apricot Warehouse into an aid logistics center, Varank said, “This is the largest in Turkey. It is a facility that we built with European Union funds. It was not only a storage area, but also an integrated space with laboratories. It was instrumental in such a benevolent service before it was commissioned. Hopefully, in the coming period, he will be able to return to his original duty after he has healed these wounds." said.
CLOSE TO 2 STAFF
Social Assistance and Solidarity Foundation Personnel Çınar Aydoğmuş, who is in charge of the licensed warehouse converted into a logistics center, said that they prepared all the products from all over Turkey and delivered them to families in need. Underlining that they can easily distribute the products thanks to the licensed warehouse, Aydoğmuş said, “Here, social assistance foundations, volunteer member personnel of the ASYA Program, İŞKUR personnel, commandos, police and friends from almost every institution of Malatya cover this area with approximately 800 people. We are trying to serve.” he said.
13 MILLION OIL INVESTMENT
Turkey's largest Licensed Dried Apricot Warehouse, which was converted into a logistics center for earthquake victims in Malatya, was supported within the scope of the Competitive Sectors Program of the Ministry of Industry and Technology. An investment of 13 million Euros was made in the licensed warehouse, which was implemented within the framework of the Competitive Sectors Program implemented within the scope of financial cooperation between Turkey and the European Union. The facility, which was established with the initiatives of Malatya Metropolitan Municipality and Malatya Commodity Exchange, has a storage facility of 5 thousand tons of dried apricots. The project started to be used as a logistics base in the region under the coordination of AFAD after the earthquake disaster experienced due to its location and capacity.