On February 6, a powerful, 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck south central Türkiye and northern Syria. The earthquake caused thousands of reported deaths across the affected region as buildings collapsed across the region. This is the deadliest earthquake to have hit the region in over twenty years, and is among the most powerful ever recorded in Turkey.
Aid from the international community will be essential to supporting both immediate needs and long-term recovery. Both Türkiye and Syria were already experiencing economic instability, which this disaster will only further exacerbate. Syria’s twelve-year civil war has left the country devastated, with millions of refugees fleeing in neighboring countries. Türkiye is also facing an unprecedented economic crisis with 85 percent inflation, making over two-thirds of Turks struggle to pay for food and rent. With vulnerable populations affected and needs outpacing resources, it is imperative that the international community send humanitarian aid that is both rapid and extensive.
As we look to build that response, we know that giving in this region can be challenging and must be done with great care and diligence. CAF America is committed to supporting the vital relief efforts underway to recover from this devastating disaster. We have reached out to all of our eligible charities in the region to confirm their work in response to the disaster.
As an organization committed to enabling cross-border charitable giving, CAF America stands ready to assist US donors wanting to support the ongoing relief efforts. Please reach out to us if there is anything we can do to assist you: info@cafamerica.org or 202-793-2232.
Organizations Responding to the Earthquake in Türkiye & Syria
The organizations in the list below are working to provide relief and are currently vetted and eligible to receive grants from CAF America. You can support their work by clicking on the organization name or by contacting your fund manager to make a grant from your fund.
CAF America's Relief Fund
Türkiye & Syria Earthquake Relief Fund: We have set up this relief fund to fund work at organizations supporting humanitarian relief efforts in Türkiye and Syria. Grants from this campaign will be made at CAF America's discretion, to charities working on relief and response associated with the February 6, 2023 Earthquake affecting people in Türkiye and Syria.
Organizations in Türkiye
AHBAP Derneği (AHBAP): AHBAP is engaged in on-site search and rescue operations for survivors trapped beneath the rubble following the horrific earthquake in Turkey, and their team has established a coordination center in support of the ongoing response efforts. Additionally, AHBAP is providing resources for persons displaced, sharing a list of institutions and businesses that have opened their doors to citizens who had to leave their homes after the earthquake.
Haytap - Turkish Animal Rights Federation: Despite the difficult weather conditions and the hazard of being stuck on the roads, our vehicles are arriving on the scene in Hatay-Antakya, bringing volunteers with them. To assist the government effort in rescuing those trapped under debris, our team of volunteers is undergoing search an rescue efforts for trapped animals and people, and is answering calls from individuals trying to rescue their trapped animals from all these cities.
Molham Volunteering Team:The people in Turkey and NW Syria witnessed a tough night like no other as a 7.5 strong earthquake hit the region. It resulted in tens of victims, and hundreds of injured and people who are trapped under the destruction. Not that only, but the Syrian Civil Defense announced the northern Syria region as a Disaster-Stricken Region. Thus, the displaced families in Turkey and Syria are in dire need of help, we will do all we can to compensate them for what they’ve been through and provide them with accommodation. We’re launching “Earthquake Response” Campaign that aims to lessen their suffering and provide them with the necessities they lack.
Red Crescent Turkey (Turkish Red Cross): Turkish Red Crescent (Kızılay) teams took action immediately after the earthquake. Disaster expert teams from Adana Disaster Response Center, Ankara Disaster Response Center, Düzce Disaster Response Center, İzmir Disaster Response Center, Elazig Disaster Response Center, Erzurum Disaster Response Center, Kırklareli Disaster Response Center, Muş Disaster Response Center and from 13 branches were deployed to the area under the coordination of the Kızılay Disaster Coordination Center. Kızılay teams are on their way to support the work in the disaster area in the fields of nutrition, psychosocial support, blanket distribution, and blood services. Sending catering trucks to the region, Turkish Red Crescent mobilizes its resources for the distribution of soup and treats to the citizens who had to spend the night outside. Additionally, Kızılay search and rescue teams have been directed to the region. Kızılay’s psychosocial support teams have also been mobilized to reach the region in order to support those affected by the earthquake. Moreover, Kızılay has dispatched its blood stocks to the region for the possible need for blood and plasma. Kızılay contributed to the work in the region with its 629 professional and 1.402 volunteer teams. Kızılay deployed 77 branch catering trucks, 30 emergency response vehicles, 38 vehicle, 9 pickup, 16 mobil kitchen, 2 mobil oven, 4 delivery vehicle, 2 communication vehicles, 3 mobile catering vehicles, 1 search and rescue vehicle, 1 container kitchen, 1 logistics vehicle, 1 mobile soup kitchen, 1 bus, 1 panel van, 1 mobile kitchen van, 2 van and 2 truck in total 181 vehicles to the region. Kızılay delivered 28,654 blankets, 2.006 tents, 7 field kitchen and 48 foam mattresses to the region. Kızılay distributed 155,428 nutrition, 371,183 catering supplies and 27,956 lt of water.
Temel Ihtiyac Dernegi (TIDER - Basic Needs Association): Basic Needs Association (TIDER) is a non profit organization which brings a broad perspective to food-banking by providing concrete solutions that fights against poverty and waste with the holistic model. TIDER works with members of the families who live in poverty, who wants to find jobs or establish their own business, supporting them with its original model has been awarded by Global Food Banking Network in 2017. TIDER with awareness that needs of the people who live in poverty are not limited with the products that are provided by the foodbanks, act with the responsibility to expand the area of benefit of foodbanks and spread the model throughout Turkey. Our objective is to reduce food waste and poverty in Turkey by using foodbanking as an integrated solution for these two problems. In the World 1/3 of the food production is wasted every year. It equals to 1,3 billion tons and it spreads 3.3. billion carbon dioxide. In Turkey, the foods are wasted at most are vegetables, fruits and bread. Reducing the food waste will help to protect the environment while reducing poverty.
As TIDER, we are in contact with our food banks in earthquake zones. Our preparations for the supply and shipment of the products that may be needed are still continuing. You can contact us to give support.
Toplum Gonulluleri Vakfi: We organizing the mobilization of volunteers from all over Turkey on behalf of the Disaster Coordination Community, and have received around 16,000 volunteer application so far. Donations will go towards the mobilizing and supplying the volunteers in their work to assist affected communities.
Turk Egitim Vakfi: We would like to state that upon requests for information and assistance from our donors, we are in contact with the relevant organizations for all kinds of support and coordination. We closely follow our scholars who were affected by the earthquake and support them financially and morally. We would like to inform you, our esteemed donors, that we will do our part after this sad earthquake, that our disaster scholarship fund, which has been active for many years, can already accept donations, and that there will be hope for students with a sustainable planning, and thank you for your valuable support and interest.
Organizations in the United States
All Hands and Hearts - Smart Response, Inc: Our team is connecting with local and international partners to assess the damage and begin to assist with relief activities as quickly as possible. The impact on the people of the region will be enormous and our dedicated volunteers from around the world are ready to stand alongside those affected to support recovery efforts in the weeks and even years to come.
Cooperative For Assistance And Relief Everywhere, Inc. (CARE USA): In Türkiye: relief items that have been distributed today (February 10) include winter clothing kits (1,000 people), food packages (16,000 HH), hygiene kits (1,000 families), heaters (300 families). More are in the pipeline. In Northwest Syria: CARE has five active implementing partners inside Northwest Syria, who are all activated. CARE is adapting existing activities and redirecting funding for earthquake response. CARE and partners have distributed kitchen kits and 600 NFI and hygiene kits to earthquake affected populations. Plans for food assistance and purchase of ready-to-eat meals is underway Syria (NES): Working in partnership with two national organizations (existing partners), we are delivering assistance in Aleppo. Assessments are also underway to better determine targeted response.
Flexport.org Fund: Because the only aid that matters is the aid that arrives, Flexport.org is currently organizing shipments of requested and needed humanitarian supplies with our NGO partners to help improve the lives of people impacted by the earthquakes in Turkey.
International Medical Corps: After contacting staff members to confirm that they and their family members are safe, International Medical Corps began coordinating closely with our local teams and partners, assessing the situation across the region and is mobilizing its response. Our team in Syria has already deployed to communities, bringing medical and mental health services, as well as vital supplies—such as blankets, clean water, hand sanitizers and sanitary pads—to women, children and men affected by the quakes, while our Emergency Response Team has deployed to Turkey and is working through partners there. We also are in discussion with the World Health Organization regarding a potential deployment of our Emergency Medical Team.
International Rescue Committee, Inc.: In the wake of the powerful earthquake, our teams in Syria are working tirelessly to ensure the safety and wellbeing of those affected. Our more than 1,000 staff inside the country are providing lifesaving health care and protection services along with other emergency early recovery support. As humanitarian needs soar, we are launching an integrated response to affected populations across both Turkey and Syria. This will include the provision of immediate cash, basic items, such as blankets and towels, and hygiene supplies like soap, toothbrushes and feminine products. We will support essential health services in earthquake affected areas, and set up safe spaces for affected women and children.
Mercy Corps: Mercy Corps is on the ground in Northwest Syria working to deliver essential supplies to communities affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that hit the region earlier today. Over 2,100 people are now confirmed dead, including nearly 1,000 in Syria. Many people are believed to be trapped beneath the rubble, leading to fears that the death toll will increase. We won’t know the true devastation for some time as search and rescue efforts continue in the coming days. After confirming the safety of team members, our team on the ground in Syria immediately began outreach across the 96 camps in which we currently operate, as well as 136 communities in Idlib and Aleppo. Mercy Corps has been working in Syria since 2008, delivering emergency assistance and addressing longer-term needs both before and during the current crisis.
United States Fund For UNICEF: In Syria, UNICEF is currently on the ground undertaking assessments and providing emergency aid. The initial focus of our emergency response is on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), child protection services, nutrition, and education. Further, UNICEF is working to protect unaccompanied children and reunite those who have become separated from their families. UNICEF may also need to set up Child-Friendly Spaces and start psychosocial support interventions given the psychological impact of the disaster. In Turkey, efforts are currently focused on search and rescue and UNICEF is coordinating with the Government on the emerging needs linked to the wider humanitarian response. The Turkish government has not requested funding support at this time, but should this change, UNICEF is ready to help.
Organizations Around the World
Al Hamidy Charitable Endowment: Al Hamidy has initiated a relief campaign to help Turkish victims of the earthquake as they’re geographically close to the epicenter. Grants will support the work of local organizations providing shelter, food, linens, water, sanitary products, and other essentials to survivors of the earthquake.
AVSI Foundation: AVSI has been present in Syria since 2017 with the Open Hospitals project: three non-profit hospitals in Aleppo and Damascus, plus four dispensaries that have provided over 50,000 free treatments in five years. In the aftermath of the earthquake, we took immediate action and are bringing additional aid to the St Louis Hospital in Aleppo, which fortunately suffered no serious damage and it is perfectly operating, and to the dispensary in Lattikia. Our team in Syria is moving quickly to respond to the emergency, working with partner organisations to ensure that people receive the crucial support they need; Winter season is still hitting hard the populations with night temperatures well below zero. Those who have seen their house destroyed will be supported with provision of shelters, blankets and clothes. Food assistance is urgently needed, including mobile kitchens to prepare hot-meals.
CADENA: CADENA International is responding to the different emerging needs in the affected Areas. We are currently coordinating our response with local representatives.
Canadian Red Cross Society: The Red Cross Red Crescent is working to deliver emergency relief and to get help to those impacted by the earthquakes as quickly as possible. Money raised will enable the Red Cross Red Crescent to provide immediate relief, ongoing recovery efforts and resiliency and preparedness activities in impacted and surrounding areas. The activities and areas impacted may evolve based on emerging needs and compounding humanitarian crises.
Deutsches Rotes Kreuz e.V. (The German Red Cross): The DRK has been working closely with its sister societies in Turkey and Syria for many years to help people in need. We are currently in close contact with them to determine the situation on the ground and the humanitarian needs and how the DRK can best support to provide urgently needed aid.
Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta: The Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta reached out to its long-time local partners in Syria – aid organizations of the Greek Catholic Melkite Church – and through their joint cooperation around 30-40 people were providing immediate medical assistance, and many dozens of their associates were directly involved in the rescue work searching for survivors at the four hardest hit sites.
1. The mobile medical clinics: The mobile medical clinics first established in Syria by the Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta in 2018 have been promptly relocated to the earthquake-affected regions. In Latakia and Aleppo, a total of four mobile medical clinics and two mobile medical containers, equipped with X-rays, ultrasound equipment and a mini laboratory, were receiving patients in need of care, including minor surgeries. A large number of people have arrived in shock, with traumatic injuries, even some who were injured during the rescue.
2. Soup kitchens and humanitarian hotspots: The Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta established and operated humanitarian hotspots for the displaced, where tents were set up to provide soup kitchen (food, drinks), and also sanitary equipment. It is called humanitarian hotspot where we also plan to continue to support the post-earthquake humanitarian program, which enabled the health care services and the hotspots to operate for a few weeks.
The Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta plans to launch a fundraising campaign to continue the program and help the earthquake-affected regions.
Islamic Relief Canada: Islamic Relief teams are on the ground right now responding to the disaster in both Turkiye and Syria. We are providing medical supplies to local hospitals, supporting their capacity to treat those who are injured. We continue to assess the situation as it evolves, making preparations to provide emergency food and shelter support to those affected. As a member of the Humanitarian Coalition, a donation to Islamic Relief Canada will contribute towards the joint appeal for Türkiye and Syria and provide aid to reach and save as many lives as possible.
People In Need: People in Need is on the ground in Syria and preparing assistance to victims of the earthquake. We have been working in the area affected by the earthquake for many years, providing assistance to victims of the war so we already have experienced humanitarian teams on the ground and hundreds of colleagues ready to start to distribute humanitarian aid.
Polish Center for International Aid: The Polish Center for International Aid Foundation, active in the Middle East for over a dozen years, has launched a fundraiser for the victims of the disaster. Aid will go to the victims of the earthquake on the Syrian side of the border, where there are hundreds of victims and collapsed buildings, and where it will be much harder for rescue teams to reach. In March 2020, the PCPM Foundation erected modular houses in refugee camps in northern Syria, similar houses and other material assistance will be sent for victims of this disaster.
Polish Humanitarian Action: Upon receiving news of the horrific earthquake, PAH deployed our emergency response team to Gaziantep to begin needs assessment and rendering immediate aid to people affected. The most urgent needs is to provide safe, warm shelters – many houses are in danger of collapsing and there are many aftershocks – as well as food and hygiene products.
United Kingdom for UNHCR: UNHCR colleagues are distributing thermal blankets, tents, cooking sets, mattresses and more.
Veterinarians Without Borders (Veterinaires Sans Frontieres): Our response efforts are focusing on immediate food, shelter, medical supplies, in-kind items such as blankets for the pets, transportation for injured animals or those who have lost their owners to Istanbul and Adana, and salaries of the staff working. The majority of people currently supporting the activities on the ground are currently supported by volunteers.
