A series of devastating earthquakes have hit southern Turkey and north-west Syria killing 20,000 people and injuring many more.
With the death toll rising following the devastating earthquake many organisations have started funds to help those affected. Below is a list of a few that have started emergency funds to support the efforts in Syria and Turkey. People have been left without shelter in freezing winter conditions, with humanitarian needs expected to grow in the coming days. Access to clean water will likely be a challenge, bringing the risk of cholera and other diseases.
Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC)
DEC charities and their local partners are among the first responders, working with locally-led relief efforts in Turkey (now known as Türkiye) and Syria. Immediate priorities are search and rescue, medical treatment for the injured, shelter for those who have lost their homes, heaters for spaces and winter kits with blankets, and warm clothes, and ensuring people have food and clean water.
Donate now to help save lives
£30 could provide blankets for six people to keep them warm
£50 could provide emergency food for two families for 10 days
£100 could provide emergency shelter for four families
ITN Turkey-Syria Earthquake appeal with Daniel Craig
British Red Cross
The British Red Cross has launched an emergency appeal to aid evacuation efforts and provide emergency first aid in conjunction with the Turkish Red Crescent and Syrian Arab Red Crescent. Together, they have launched a crisis response in 10 regions in Turkey and the Hama, Aleppo and Latakia regions in Syria.
Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without borders)
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is working in north-west Syria to provide life-saving medical care.
You can donate to MSF here
Oxfam
Oxfam has launched an appeal to support people affected by this disaster. Teams in Türkiye (Turkey) and Syria are working with partner organisations to assess the types of immediate and longer-term support that are needed to help people in the aftermath of Monday’s devastating earthquakes. The emergency response is expected to include water and sanitation, shelter and food support as well as longer-term rehabilitation and reconstruction.
You can donate to Oxfam here
Save the Children
Save the Children is working hand-in-hand with long-time partners across northwest Syria and Turkey. Together, they’re assessing what children and their families need, so they can deliver emergency relief. You can help them get families the food, warm blankets, winter clothes and shelter materials they need to survive. Additionally Save The Children will look to set up safe spaces for women and children, and get psychological support to children so they can start to process their terrible experiences.
You can donate to Save the Children here
The White Helmets
The White Helmets is a volunteer organisation that formed in 2014 in response to the Syrian Civil War. The White Helmets are responding to the huge earthquake that hit Syria. As they search for survivors and pull the dead from collapsed buildings, they urgently need support. Give what you can to support their life-saving work.
You can donate to the White Helmets here
Unicef
Children face extra risks to their health without supplies of food and clean water. UNICEF is working round the clock to protect the health and welfare of children.
In Syria, UNICEF is mobilising supplies and services to support the urgent needs of children and families. They are ready to support the response in Türkiye as and when requested by the government.
You can donate to Unicef here