The devastating news reached our screens on Monday morning of a 7.8 magnitude earthquake striking South Eastern Turkey and Northern Syria. The death toll has risen to 11 thousand people, and a total of 700 more earthquakes followed since the first one. While it might seem far away for us safely tucked away on the British Isles, the suffering experienced by the natural disaster should not be ignored. So, we’ve gathered up a list of charities as well as places to donate locally.
Charities To Donate To Online
1. The British Red Cross
The British Red Cross is one of the main ones to donate to from the UK, providing essential care to those injured with emergency first aid, as well as evacuation. It’s operated by The Turkish Red Crescent (Kizilay) locally, who have launched a crisis response operation and mobilised teams in more than 10 regions across Turkey, and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent is aiding those in need in the regions of Hama, Aleppo and Lattakia affected by the earthquake.
You can make a donation here.
2. Molham Volunteering Team
Molham Team is a licensed non-profit NGO to provide help for the refugees in North West Syria and Counties of Asylum. They basically gather together volunteers from all counties and organisations who can send rescue teams to help save the thousands of people that have been under the rubble for more than 24 hours now in North West Syria after the disastrous earthquake hit in the early hours of Monday morning.
You can make a donation here.
3. AFAD
AFAD is the Ministry of Interior Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency with 81 provincial branches and 11 search and rescue units. This is one of the main places to donate to, as they develop earthquake response strategies countrywide, and cooperate with other government institutions as well as non-governmental organizations when needed. You can donate to the current AFAD earthquake campaign here.
4. AKUT Search And Rescue Organisation
Search and rescue efforts are one of the main ways to help preserve as many lives as possible after an earthquake. AKUT Search and Rescue Organisation has helped 39 people from under the collapsed buildings so far, and time is of the essence for them to be able to continue with the efforts. You can make a donation here.
5. UN Crisis Relief
Image: ShutterstockUN Crisis Relief provides urgent rescue efforts for those affected by disasters and crisis around the world. The Turkey-Syria earthquake is no exception, and it is one of the most reliable organisations to donate to. Search and rescue teams have deployed to assess and prioritize urgent needs and to provide life-saving support to those affected. You can donate here.
6. Action for Humanity/Syria Relief
Manchester-based charity Action for Humanity are providing a variety of relief efforts that can be easily bolstered with online donations. The charity are looking to deliver ready to eat meals, cooked meals, emergency kits, and health emergency kits, along with setting up mobile clinics in the area to provide essential operations for those who need it most. From a donation of £30, Action for Humanity are delivering these services on the ground as we speak, and you can donate here.
7. UK-Med
UK-Med was born in Manchester, from the NHS, offering frontline medical care all over the world, working for over 30 years towards a world where everyone has the healthcare they need when crises or disasters hit. The UK’s WHO-approved Emergency Medical Team have been deployed to Turkey and Syria to provide essential medical care for the injured, both directly and by supporting local healthcare providers. You can donate here.
Where To Donate Clothing And/Or Supplies
8. The North West Turkish Community Association
The North West Turkish Community Association and similar charities have opened collection points in Middleton and Trafford Park where people are being asked to donate items to help with the relief effort, particularly to help survivors cope in the cold weather. NWTCA aims to fly a plane to the area loaded with new winter clothing for adults and children and other materials such as tents, blankets, sleeping bags, flasks, flashlights, canned food, nappies and sanitary pads. If you can spare any of these items, bearing in mind the organisers ask that all items are boxed, the locations for donation are:
Senol & Senol Ltd/GOSS Outdoor, Unit C, Canalside North, John Gilbert Way, Trafford Park, Manchester, M17 1UP (next estate to Manchester United football ground N3 Car Park) from 09:00 – 16:00 on weekdays | UK FatMilk-Lab UK building, Sadler Street, Middleton, M24 5U from 09:00 – 16:30 on weekdays. Donations are being taken until 4.30pm on Friday 10th February.