How to Help After an Earthquake Kills Thousands in Turkey and Syria
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A 7.8 MAGNITUDE earthquake hit Turkey and northern Syria Monday morning, killing thousands.
The quake concentrated on the town of Pazarcik, in Turkey's southeastern Kahramanmaras province, and was followed by a 7.5 quake and several powerful aftershocks. Photos and videos show massive buildings collapsing to rubble and terrified residents running through the streets to escape the destruction.
More than 5,000 people have died from the disaster in Turkey and Syria—at least 3,419 across Turkey, Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay said in a press conference Tuesday, and at least 812 in Syria per the Ministry of Health. In Syrian rebel-held territories, more than 790 people were killed, according to the White Helmets.
Oktay added that about 6,000 buildings have been damaged or destroyed.
The Ministry of Interior Disaster said nearly 10,000 search and rescue workers, 216 vehicles, and 1,511 pieces of construction equipment have been deployed to the affected area. Meanwhile, both Turkey and Syria have declared a state of emergency.
The United Kingdom announced Monday that it is deploying emergency response teams to Turkey to assist in rescue efforts, with U.K. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly tweeting, "The UK is sending immediate support to Türkiye including a team of 76 search & rescue specialists, equipment and rescue dogs. In Syria, the UK-funded White Helmets have mobilised their resources to respond. We stand ready to provide further support as needed."
President Joe Biden said the United States is also willing to provide any help needed. "I am deeply saddened by the loss of life and devastation caused by the earthquake in Turkiye and Syria. I have directed my team to continue to closely monitor the situation in coordination with Turkiye and provide any and all needed assistance," he tweeted this morning.
The earthquakes have caused the worst disaster in Turkey since 1939, when a quake of the same magnitude as Monday's (7.8) first struck the country, killing approximately 30,000 people.
Ahead, see the ways in which you can help survivors after the tragedy.
Donate
Doctors Without Borders is one of the many organizations quickly responding to the disaster through their teams in northern Syria and providing aid for the injured. Send your donation here.
World Food Program USA, the U.S. affiliate of the United Nations World Food Programme, is actively supporting the WFP’s aid efforts with teams on the ground in Turkey and Syria. WFP also serves as the primary logistics arm of the United Nations in emergency situations. Donations can be made here.
Mercy Corps, a global team of humanitarians working on the front lines of crisis, is currently responding to the tragedy in North West Syria. "Our team is working quickly to provide clean water, hygiene kits and shelter supplies (blankets, solar lamps, mattresses, carpets and more) in camps across North West Syria. We have worked in Syria since 2008 and in the North West, we have provided essential support including water, food, shelter, sanitation services, and livelihoods assistance to Syrians displaced multiple times throughout the course of the conflict," they said in a statement to BAZAAR.com. You can donate here.
UNICEF and partners are on the ground assessing the current situation and humanitarian needs in the countries. They are currently focusing on assessing impact on main water stations and providing water to those displaced, providing aid to separated or unaccompanied children, giving food to those in need, and assessing damages in schools, especially those being used as shelters. You can help here.
"The number keeps increasing. There is a sense of panic, including among children. Many people, including children are displaced and remain outside in streets and open areas. The government of Syria closed schools and universities for today and some are being used as shelters," UNICEF Representative in Syria, Angela Kearney, said in a statement to BAZAAR.
Oxfam, a British-founded confederation of 21 charitable organizations "focusing on the alleviation of global poverty," are on the ground today helping victims and survivors of the devastating earthquakes. You can help their efforts here.
LaunchGood, a crowdfunding platform focused on the Muslim community worldwide, launched a fundraiser to help those affected by the earthquake. "As Muslims, it is our duty to come together in times of hardship and support those in need," they wrote. As of Monday morning, they have raised nearly $8,000. Donate here.
AKUT, an entirely voluntary, non-governmental organization involved in searching, assisting, and rescuing all who require aid in natural disasters and all other emergency conditions, is also taking donations. It is one of the biggest search and rescue organizations in Turkey.
The Turkish Red Crescent, which is the largest humanitarian organization in Turkey and part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, is also assisting in the tragedy. It provides shelter, food, health aid, blood, and social services to those in need. You can donate here.
Donate to the International Committee of the Red Cross, which provides aid in crisis situations around the globe.
Molham Volunteering Team, a nonprofit founded in 2012 in Jordan, by a group of then-university students, has already raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for aid for those affected. Offer your own donation here.
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