MSC ferry transports earthquake relief supplies to Turkey

Shipping and cruise company MSC Group and its charitable arm, MSC Foundation, have sent a ferry to Turkey to transport relief supplies to those affected by the devastating earthquakes.

MSC Aurelia will also be able provide accommodation for those affected by the disaster once it has docked and delivered its cargo.

The passenger and vehicle ferry left the port of Naples on Thursday (February 16), heading for the port of Iskenderun (Alexandretta).

It is carrying 60 pallets of medical supplies, food, hygiene items, clothing and blankets, as well as toys and crayons for children. Fifty boxes of thermal shirts are being carried on behalf of the Vatican.

The ship will then provide accommodation for those affected by the devastation which hit southeastern Turkey and Syria last week.

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The MSC Foundation is also working with the UN Refugee Agency to transport 100 containers carrying first aid supplies to Gaziantep and other cities hit hardest by the earthquake.

Furthermore, MSC has set up temporary accommodation at Iskenderun port using empty containers for 300 MSC Group employees and their families who lost their homes in the earthquake disaster.

The MSC Group and the MSC Foundation have launched a global fundraising campaign among employees and every donation will be matched by the foundation.

Daniela Picco, executive director of the MSC Foundation, said: “We are a part of a global organisation that can set in motion a large-scale operation by involving foundations and associations that we collaborate with all around the world.

“We immediately took action to collect funds, supplies and food, which we can deliver on our ships within a short period of time.”