The Pakistani children have also been reading the whole Quran for the people who lost their lives due to the earthquake.

Prayers from Kashmir’s orphans to Van’s orphans

Hundreds of orphans staying at the Rara, Haripur, Rawalpindi and Islamabad orphanages, jointly established by the IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation and Khubaib Foundation in the aftermath of a quake in Pakistan in 2005, have been reciting the whole Quran for quake victims in Van for days. These children who lost their parents in the 2005 quake are cared by IHH and Khubaib Foundation. The orphans said they are very happy to see that IHH cares for the orphans in Van as it takes care of them. They also said they would like to host Van orphans in Pakistan as soon as possible.

“We understand the orphans in Van very well”

Yasin, one of the orphans staying at Rara orphanage, found coverage in the Turkish media back then as a boy who presented flowers to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during his visit to the region in 2005. Now, the boy, who is receiving education at the Rara College, prays for the victims of the Van quake with his friends. Yasin said only they can understand the feelings of the orphans in Van as they went through the same pain several years ago.

“We pray for them. If we had a chance, we would like to play with them,” he said.

People of Pakistan and Kashmir support Van

IHH’s Pakistan Coordinator Mehmet Kara said: “Our Pakistani sisters and brothers feel the pain caused by the quake just as we do. They read Quran for the soul of the quake victims. Likewise, our brothers and sisters whose houses were demolished in the quake and now live in the houses built by IHH, visit our office and ask what they can do for the quake victims.”

Kashmir president to visit Van

In addition, Pakistani Kashmir President Sardar Yaqoob Khan will reportedly pay a visit to the quake region soon.