By ALusine Samuel Kargbo (ASK) Istanbul
Turkey announced its first case of the novel coronavirus on Wednesday 11th of March 2020, while stressing that all precautionary measures should be taken. The pandemic which has caused major dislocations all over the world is affecting every aspect of life.
Since this pandemic started in Turkey, communities especially the African communities have been affected as some Africans have been forced to stay home for three to four weeks now without jobs not to talk of even accessing food, pay bills.
Mr. Alphajor Barrie is a Sierra Leonean, based in Turkey. He is a business man and a philanthropist that owns a cargo and a restaurant in Istanbul. He is always there to see that Africans are given the treatment they deserve in terms of shelter and medical facilities.
Mr. Alphajor Barrie was contacted by some Africans who for three weeks now have no job, food .Mr. Barrie in return has engaged some NGOs to come to the aid of Africans. The Tarlabasi Solidarity Association (TSA) responded to the call of Mr. Alphajor Barrie.
On Thursday 9th of April 2020, Mr. Barrie and the Tarlabasi Solidarity Association (TSA) started supplying masks, shopping cards, gloves and hand sanitizers to Africans resident in Turkey. Before one receives a donation his/her temperature must be checked in order to ascertain whether the individual is positive or negative..
In another development, Alie Yayah, another Sierra Leonean based in Turkey who is a University students in Istanbul, also engaged some NGOs for support. They also responded by giving a donation to all Sierra Leoneans.
