A race against time

Prophet Muhammad said: “Those who are merciful will be shown mercy by the Most Merciful. Be merciful to those on the earth and the One above the heavens will have mercy upon you.” (Source - Al-Tirmidhi)

€100 - Emergency aid - help us to provide urgent food, water, and medical aid to earthquake survivors.

In a region marked by civil war and unrest, the epicentre of the earthquake created a disaster within a disaster. People there already faced food and fuel shortages, rising prices, and the hardships of 12 years of war. Now, with their homes, buildings, and roads destroyed, they have nothing but the goodwill and kindness of others to help them pick up the pieces. Aid is urgently needed in the earthquake-affected area of Turkey in the provinces of Malatya, Kahramanmaraş, Adiyaman, Gaziantep, Hatay, and Osmaniye as well as the affected areas of northwestern Syria, including Idlib.

Surviving families have lost their homes, their clothing, their food, and places to keep warm from the cold. Medical care and medicines are difficult to access.

Residents in earthquake-hit areas urgently need aid to survive this crisis. And now, the dam at Orontes River in west Syria collapsed and flooded the town of Tlul, where near 100 families lived.

The healthcare system in Syria, already severely under-resourced and overwhelmed, is struggling to cope with hospitals destroyed, damaged, and evacuated.

Dr. Ubeyd Sakin, Human Appeal’s Turkey, Country Director said: ‘’This is the worst earthquake since the devastating Istanbul earthquake of 1999, almost 2,000 buildings have collapsed, almost 20,000 people have lost their lives and many are severely injured. Unfortunately, this number is expected to rise. The disaster hit 10 of Turkey’s Southern cities, where most of the Syrian refugees reside. There is urgent need for shelter, food and winter items such as blankets as temperatures in the area continue to drop.’’

Human Appeal is on the ground

Thousands of homes have been affected, and families are now living in exposed, open areas; in their cars; in make-shift shelters, and in temporary accommodation. Human Appeal is on the ground right now working in close coordination with the local authorities and UN coordination to deliver urgently needed aid. Current efforts include providing hot meals, hygiene kits, winter kits and vital medical care to affected families, who are in urgent need.

Despite receiving some earthquake damage, Al Imaan Hospital in Syria continues to serve the surrounding area of Idlib and provide services for pregnant mothers and newborn babies. As the hospital was being evacuated, one medical team successfully performed a c-section. Our Al Imaan Hospital is a lifeline for the displaced community here in northern Syria. Our mobile clinics are helping to support earthquake survivors in northern Syria. We're continuing to check young children and offer free healthcare, including nutritional support, to displaced Syrians who have been affected by the earthquake. Our emergency response team in Syria also visited shelters in Maarat Misrin area to provide wellness checks.

Why give with Human Appeal

We’ve been relieving the hardships of people in Syria since its war began in 2011. We coordinate our efforts through official agencies in Turkey and with the UN, and work with partners like UNICEF and Kizilay (Turkish Red Crescent).

Please continue to give to our Turkey and Syria Earthquake Emergency appeal and help us support more people affected today.