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Islamic Relief has launched a $31 million global appeal to support our teams on the ground in Syria and Türkiye (Turkey) as they respond to two devastating earthquakes that have caused widespread destruction, claiming close to 20,000 lives and injuring countless more in the two countries.
The magnitude 7.8 earthquake and 7.5 earthquakes hit on 7th February near the south-eastern Turkish cities of Gaziantep and Kahramanmaraş, close to the border with Syria. Over 10,000 deaths have been confirmed so far, and thousands more are still trapped under the rubble. The World Health Organisation has estimated that the eventual death toll could exceed 20,000.
Tremors were also felt in Cyprus, Egypt, and Lebanon.
Image: Islamic Relief teams supporting search and rescue efforts in Syria in the aftermath of the earthquakes
Islamic Relief is already on the ground in both south-eastern Türkiye (Turkey) and north-western Syria. We are distributing food and drink to some of those worst affected in Türkiye (Turkey), and will be providing cash vouchers as markets reopen to enable people to meet their immediate needs.
In Syria, we immediately delivered health and medical supplies to hospitals and clinics treating survivors, and will continue to support these life-saving efforts. In the afternoon immediately following the quakes, we delivered mattresses, blankets and plastic sheets to three reception centres hosting people who have lost their homes or have been rescued from the rubble.
This is the worst earthquake to hit Türkiye (Turkey) in 20 years. In addition to the rising toll of people killed or seriously injured, close to 6,000 buildings have been damaged or destroyed. Turkish authorities say about 13.5 million people have been affected by the quake.
In Türkiye (Turkey) the authorities have set up an air corridor to enable search and rescue teams to reach the zone affected, while approximately 380,000 people have taken refuge in government shelters or hotels, with others huddling in shopping malls, stadiums, mosques and community centres. Hundreds are taking refuge inside their cars to protect themselves against the cold weather.
Image: Islamic Relief teams supporting search and rescue efforts in Syria in the aftermath of the earthquakes
The worst earthquake to hit Syria in over a century
The earthquakes are the worst to hit the Turkish region in 19 years and in Syria, the worst in over a century.
Freezing temperatures, shortages in fuel and electricity due to damaged infrastructure, limited supplies due to strained supply chains and more are hampering the efforts of search and rescue teams on the ground. Approximately 380,000 people have taken refuge in government shelters, shopping malls, community centres and even their cars to protect them from the cold.
The scale of this disaster cannot yet be determined as the situation on the ground continues to evolve, what we do know is that it is a race against time to save lives. Please donate generously to our Türkiye (Turkey) Syria Earthquake Appeal now.
Mohammed Hamza, head of Islamic Relief’s office in Idlib, northwest Syria, witnessed the destruction first-hand:
“It was 4am and I woke up to the house shaking from side to side. Everything was shaking, bricks were falling out. It felt like Judgement Day, and everything would be completely destroyed. My wife was screaming, and I went to my children but I didn’t know what we could do. We fled outside and saw thousands of people on the streets with just the clothes on their backs. People were shouting for their lost children – whole families were separated and lost.
“So many buildings were totally destroyed, and I saw tens of people under the rubble, with crowds trying to pull them out. People are still out in the streets – they don’t have anything to go home to and we are all scared of aftershocks.
“Right now, the Islamic Relief team here is distributing blankets, sheets and mattresses that we have in stock – but these will run out very quickly and we need more as soon as possible. People urgently need tents, food parcels and blankets. Hospitals are inundated with injured people, so we’re providing them with medicine and other supplies.”
This is a developing situation, aftershocks could continue for days or weeks and continue to cause damage to the already fragile infrastructure in Syria.
It is expected that the death toll for both Syria and Turkiye (Turkey) will rise significantly in the coming days.
Time is of the essence at this critical stage, we need your support to reach and save as many lives as possible. Please donate generously to our Türkiye (Turkey) Syria Earthquake Appeal and help save precious lives now.
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can provide bread to 675 people displaced by war in Syria
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Islamic Relief is on the ground in Türkiye (Turkey) and Syria
Time is of the essence at this critical stage, we need your support to reach and save as many lives as possible. Please donate generously to our Türkiye (Turkey) Syria Earthquake Appeal and help save precious lives now.