The Disasters Emergency Committee in Scotland thanks people from across the country for raising more than £13 million for millions of people affected by the Türkiye-Syria earthquakes exactly one year ago.
On the first anniversary of the devastating earthquakes in southern Türkiye and northwest Syria, which killed more than 56,000 people, the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) in Scotland has praised people across the country for their generous support once again.
More than £13 million has been raised in Scotland since the disaster with £158 million raised across the UK over the past year – making this the 3rd largest appeal in the DEC’s history. This includes £500,000 from the Scottish Government with the UK government matching £5 million in donations through the Aid Match scheme.
This generosity enabled the DEC’s 15 member charities and their local partners to help more than a 1 million people in the first six months after the disaster and many more since. Support will continue for the next 12 months for the most vulnerable people who lost loved ones, their homes and livelihoods, helping them on the long road to recovery.
Oxfam is one of 6 DEC members who work together in Scotland to raise awareness following major international disasters.
Jamie Livingstone, Head of Oxfam Scotland, said: “These deadly earthquakes not only killed more than 50,000 people – many of whom were asleep in their beds – they also left nearly 18 million people in need of urgent humanitarian assistance.
“The scale of the challenge facing DEC member charities was enormous, but so was the Scottish public’s response. We’re grateful to the Scottish Government and everyone else here who put their hands in their pockets to give what they could to help save lives.
“A year on, with many families still living in tents or shipping containers, Scottish donations continue to support everyday life in camps, from repairing damaged water supplies to providing blankets and hygiene kits. The road to recovery will be long, but thanks to the public’s generosity, communities in Türkiye and Syria won’t have to walk it alone.
“In what can often feel like a fractured world, the people of Scotland proved once again that compassion knows no borders; and that while we may be a small nation, we have a big heart.”
One year on, 787,000 people in Türkiye are still living in temporary camps. In northwest Syria, 2 million are displaced due to the earthquakes and conflict there.
Through freezing temperatures, flooding and extreme heat last summer, DEC charities have together provided:
- 921,000 people with access to safe drinking water.
- 269,000 people with emergency food parcels or vouchers to buy food.
- 186,000 people with hygiene kits including laundry soap and washing up liquid, soap, toothpaste and toothbrushes.
- 150,000 people with household kits including blankets, kitchen items and clothing.
- 42,300 people with access to healthcare, including medicines and medical items.
- 34,100 people with mental health or psychosocial support
The Chief Executive of the Disasters Emergency Committee, Saleh Saeed, has travelled to the region to see the impact of the appeal funds. He said:
“To see the difference so many individual donations have made to people’s lives is simply incredible – in many cases that support has been lifesaving. I know recovery from an event of this scale will take time but with the support from people across Scotland and the UK, the DEC’s member charities can continue to help so many families regain their independence once more as they rebuild their lives.”
There is detailed information on the DEC response in a newly published report, which you can read below.