On Sept. 16, the community of Dereobası in Osmaniye Province marked the groundbreaking of the Osmaniye Soup Kitchen, a project intended to serve as a symbol of resilience and recovery after last year’s devastating earthquakes.

The initiative is led by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and carried out by the Turkish Red Crescent. The Red Cross Society of the Republic of China (Taiwan) has also been a major supporter, providing humanitarian aid in the immediate aftermath of the disaster. It donated 180,000 Swiss francs in 2023 and $753,000 in 2024, funds that were directed toward early relief efforts, community rebuilding, and, more recently, the construction of the new kitchen.

The two-story reinforced concrete building will cover about 720 square meters on a 1,849-square-meter site. The first floor is planned as a large-scale kitchen with storage and washing facilities, while the second floor will house the Osmaniye branch of the Turkish Red Crescent and support units, ensuring long-term management and operation of the facility.

Planning began in May 2024, when bids for design were invited. Architectural, structural, electrical, and mechanical systems were completed later that year, with final design documents issued in October. A construction contract was signed in April 2025, and the site was handed over to the contractor following a geotechnical survey. That survey revealed soil liquefaction risks, requiring foundation reinforcement and backfilling. A building permit was issued in August, allowing work to begin in earnest. The groundbreaking ceremony signaled that the project had cleared its technical hurdles and entered a new phase.

Once completed, the soup kitchen will do far more than serve hot meals. It is designed to become a hub for post-disaster recovery. Organizers say it will have the capacity to provide 10,000 meals per day, helping to stabilize food access for residents and vulnerable families while reducing reliance on emergency distributions. The second-floor offices will also strengthen the Turkish Red Crescent’s presence in the region, enhancing its ability to deliver services and coordinate disaster response.

The ceremony was attended by Osmaniye Governor Erdinç Yılmaz; Turkish Red Crescent Secretary General Yusuf Ramazan Saygılı; Deputy Secretary General Şükrü Can; and senior IFRC representatives, including Operations Manager Bülent Öztürk and Corporate Services Manager Buket Aydındoğan. They were joined by officials from ministries and provincial governments, local authorities, political parties, NGOs, volunteers and residents — a show of broad support for the project.

The earthquakes of February 2023 left countless families without homes and livelihoods, and many continue to struggle with long-term challenges. When the new soup kitchen opens, it is expected to provide a steady source of nourishment and reassurance — a testament not only to recovery in southern Turkey but also to the enduring role of Taiwan’s generosity in international humanitarian work.