This is how and where you can donate to help fund the humanitarian aid on the ground.
Image: VOA, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
British Red Cross
The Red Cross has launched an appeal to help the people of Turkey and Syria, first as they continue to rescue people trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings, and afterwards, as they care for the injured and displaced. They say, ‘The Turkish Red Crescent (Kizilay) has launched a crisis response operation and mobilised teams in more than 10 regions across the country, while the Syrian Arab Red Crescent is delivering assistance and support to those in need in the regions of Hama, Aleppo and Lattakia. Together, we’re providing emergency first aid and evacuating people to safety.’ Donate here.
DEC
The Disasters Emergency Committee brings together fifteen leading UK aid charities, raising funds to quickly and effectively respond to overseas disasters. The UK Government will match pound-for-pound up to £5 million donated by the public to this appeal, making your donations go even further. By donating to the Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal, you'll help DEC charities provide vital medical care, emergency shelter, food and clean water. £50 could provide emergency food for two families for ten days. Donate here.
The White Helmets
The White Helmets – also known as the Syria Civil Defence and identifiable by their distinctive white head gear – are volunteers made up of ‘former bakers, tailors, engineers, pharmacists, painters, carpenters, students and many more professions besides’. They were already working tirelessly to deliver humanitarian aid to save those on all sides of the conflict, putting religion and politics aside and risking their lives to do so. Indeed, many have paid the ultimate price while trying to save others.
Already on the ground, the White Helmets have sprung straight into action to help those impacted by the earthquakes. They say, ‘Three thousand White Helmets volunteers are on the ground searching for survivors and pulling the dead from collapsed buildings. They urgently need your support to respond to this disaster, to find survivors and transport hundreds of injured people to hospital in freezing snow and rain. The White Helmets are in a race against the clock. Please stand with the people of Syria and the first responders and give what you can now to help the people impacted by this disaster.’ Donate here.
Oxfam
Oxfam has launched an urgent appeal to assist its partner organisations to fund both the immediate relief operation and the longer-term support that will be necessary as the repercussions unfold. In the first instance, the money raised will go to providing water, sanitation and shelter for those affected. Meryem Aslan, an Oxfam spokesperson in Ankara, said, ‘The scale of destruction is vast. Following two big earthquakes and over 60 aftershocks, people are still in shock and fear, they don't even have time to mourn the lost ones.’ Donate here.
Syrian American Medical Society
A relief organisation, the Syrian American Medical Society is on the front line of the crisis, attending to the needs of the thousands of people injured in the earthquakes. They say, ‘Our hospitals are overwhelmed with patients filling the hallways. There is an immediate need for trauma supplies and a comprehensive emergency response to save lives and treat the injured. SAMS is reaching out to its healthcare partners to deliver a coordinated intervention and is contacting its numerous humanitarian stakeholders to share updates on the situation as it develops.’ To help them get desperately needed supplies and equipment, donate here.
UN Refugee Agency
The UNHCR is on the ground helping victims of this natural disaster by supplying emergency items, including tents, blankets and hygiene items. To help them with this essential work, please do donate here.
UNICEF
UNICEF is urgently responding to children and families in Syria impacted by the earthquake. Its mission is both to provide life-saving assistance by focusing on providing water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), child protection services, nutrition and education, and to protect unaccompanied children and reunite those how have become separated from their families. To help them as best you can, do donate here.
By Nancy Alsop
February 2023
