Following the 7.8 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes and aftershocks that hit northwestern Syria and southwestern Türkiye on Monday 6th February, there has been an international humanitarian response from countries and governments across the globe. Since then, the death toll has continued to rise, with over 37,000 lives lost, marking this disaster as among the top five most deadly earthquakes globally in the past twenty years.
As local Syrian and Türkish organisations work alongside international NGOs and others to provide immediate assistance, conditions continue to worsen due to freezing temperatures, unstable infrastructure and debris. Many members of Scotland’s International Development Alliance are already working in Syria and Türkiye to support the humanitarian response, and we spoke to a few of them to hear about what is being done, and how our community can continue to help.
Nadeem Baqir, Islamic Relief’s National Fundraising Manager Scotland, said:
“Our team is working tirelessly around the clock to reach as many people as they can, all while trying to keep their own families safe. We’ve managed to get vital aid to thousands of people so far, but the needs are enormous and so much more aid is needed. People have lost their homes and everything they have and are now stuck outside and scared of freezing to death. People urgently need food and shelter.”
Arif Syed Muhammad, Global Head of Institutional Funding & Strategic Partnerships at Action for Humanity, an international NGO working around the world to provide assistance to people affected by natural and man-made disasters, said the following:
“The devastating earthquake of 7.8 magnitude in Southern Turkey and on the border of Northwest Syria resulted in further deteriorating the lives of vulnerable families in Syria, who have already endured 12 years of brutal conflict.
Action For Humanity (Syria Relief) has an established office in Gaziantep, which is 11 miles away from the epicentre. We are now at the forefront having strong network of committed management and logistics staff on the ground inside Northwest Syria. We are providing emergency supplies in the form of Food, Emergency Kits (Blankets, Mattresses, Plastic Sheets, Hygiene Kits) as well as Health emergency kits which include Drugs, consumables and fuel for medical facilities. As the hospitals are overcrowded with injured people, our organisation is operating Mobile Health Clinics as well as clearing roads to ensure rescue teams have access to collapsed buildings to save lives.
Action For Humanity is looking for funding partners to support its work for the most vulnerable population affected by earthquake in Northwest Syria.”
Save the Children, a UK-based charity for children that works in over 100 countries to make sure children are fed, learning and treated fairly, said the following:
“Over a week on from the devastating earthquakes, Save the Children and other DEC charities are operating in Türkiye and Syria, supporting affected communities. In both countries we’re prioritising the immediate, lifesaving needs of families. Over the coming days and weeks, we will distribute temporary shelter and essential emergency relief items, including blankets, warm clothing, heaters, baby food and nappies, as well as providing cash for food, medicine and other essentials. Anyone in Scotland who wants to support this vital work can donate to the DEC’s earthquake appeal at dec.org.uk. This will allow DEC charities and their local partners to scale up their response and reach more people.”
Mercy Corps, a global humitarian assistance organisation have been working in Syria since 2008, delivering emergency assistance and addressing longer-term needs both before and during the current crisis. In the Northwest, they have provided essential support including water, food, shelter, sanitation services, and livelihoods assistance to Syrians displaced multiple times throughout the course of the conflict.
After visiting a community devastated by the earthquake, Mercy Corps’ relayed:
“What sticks in my mind is that some people were standing above the rubble and hearing the voices of their families and relatives a few meters away, but they could not do anything to rescue them due to the lack of equipment and the absence of an international response to help in light of this disaster.”
In addition to supplies, shelter is a priority need. Mercy Corps staff have observed many people sleeping in cars and staying in heavily damaged buildings. Fuel for heating and cooking is also becoming a significant challenge. There is limited availability, and what is available is of poor quality and very expensive. People are burning trash to stay warm.
Alongside distributions of essential items, Mercy Corps’ team is inspecting damage to boreholes that people rely on for clean water. Damaged water supply and treatment infrastructure, as well as damaged service roads, are causing poor water quality. Leakage of sewage and other pollutants into water sources may lead to a spread of waterborne illness, particularly as displacement camps become increasingly crowded.”
We have created a short resource to provide some guidance for those wanting to help the efforts in Syria and Türkiye, that you can access here.
You can support our members work below:
- Islamic Relief – Turkiye Syria Earthquake Appeal
- Action for Humanity – Earthquake Appeal
- Save the Children – DEC Turkey/Syria Earthquake Appeal
- Mercy Corps – Syrian Earthquake Appeal
- Firefly International – Syria Earthquake Appeal