After the terrible earthquakes in southeastern Turkey, the rector of our partner university, the German-Turkish University of Istanbul, Prof. Dr. Cemal Yildiz, wrote to us asking for our support. Even though Istanbul is not directly affected by the massive destruction, many university members are feeling the immediate effects of this humanitarian catastrophe and are in need.

The Turkish-German University is a Turkish state university where the German-language bachelor's degree program in computer science is offered under the auspices of Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg. The head of the transnational project is Prof. Dr. Mesut Güneş from the Faculty of Computer Science at Magdeburg University.

"The TDU has immense impact on academic relations between Germany and Turkey and offers the opportunity to demonstrate and improve the good academic relations between the two countries in research and teaching," said Prof. Güneş. "But these good relations apply especially in times of need and that's why we would like to ask all OVGU university members to support our colleagues in Turkey."

Monetary donations can be made to the following account of the Disaster Management Authority of Turkey, AFAD:

• Account Holder: Disaster Management Authority of Turkey AFAD.
• IBAN (USD): TR460001001745555555555205
• IBAN (EURO): TR190001001745555555555206
• Swift Code: TCZBTR2A

The rector of the University of Magdeburg, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jens Strackeljan, promises support to the 83 Turkish and 145 Syrian students at the University of Magdeburg, should you be directly affected by the consequences of the earthquake. "I would like to take this opportunity to express our deepest sympathy on behalf of the entire university. We pay tribute to the countless victims and their families and wish the injured a quick healing."