[closed] Türkiye-Syria Earthquakes Appeal

Thousands of people have been killed and tens of thousands injured after two major earthquakes struck Türkiye and northern Syria on Monday 6 February.

Since we launched the appeal on 7 February 2023 we have been deeply heartened by the incredible generosity of the Australian community. Ultimately, the appeal raised over 5.8 million dollars with extraordinary support from generous humanitarians like you.

What happened?

Early on the morning of 6 February 2023, while most people were asleep in their homes, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit parts of Türkiye and Syria. The damage was widespread and catastrophic, with apartment blocks and office buildings collapsing. At midday, a second 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck, resulting in further damage, injury and loss of life.

Over 50,000 people were killed, and millions have been left injured and without homes and businesses. The scale of this crisis is immense and will require an ongoing, dedicated and coordinated response from local Red Cross Red Crescent teams, other humanitarian actors, and government bodies.

If you have lost contact with relatives in Türkiye or Syria due to the current situation, our Restoring Family Links team may be able to help. Get in contact Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm (AEST) on 1800 875 199 or email tracing@redcross.org.au.

How your support has helped

Donations to our Türkiye-Syria Earthquakes Appeal have contributed to critical relief to affected communities through the work of Red Cross Red Crescent.

In Türkiye

Over 200 million warm meals for displaced people

130,000 temporary shelters for people who lost their homes

140,000 cash cards to ensure people can recover with dignity

In Syria

Urgent medical care for 59,000 people

4,000 Syrian Arab Red Crescent staff and volunteers deployed to the hardest hit areas

4,000 people supported with urgent psychological support

Why is the appeal closing?

While our Appeal is coming to an end, the work of Red Cross Red Crescent teams on the ground and around the world, including Australian Red Cross, will continue.

As we look toward rebuilding impacted communities in the early stages of recovery, Red Cross Red Crescent teams in both countries continue to provide vital medical aid, nourishment and psychosocial support to people who are navigating trauma, fear, and grief.

The early recovery stage also includes the implementation of long-term cash relief programs and self-sustaining and locally led preparedness measures to empower communities for the future.

About the Türkiye-Syria Earthquakes Appeal

Donations to the Türkiye-Syria Earthquakes Appeal will help provide immediate and longer-term relief to communities affected by the earthquake.

That support may include:

emergency relief assistance such as search and rescue and first aid services, health, shelter and non-food items.
specialist aid workers to assist local teams to respond to the crisis.
helping people to restore contact with family members separated by the earthquakes by offering services to maintain family links and locate missing family members.
monitoring and evaluation of the operation.

In the unlikely event that the funds raised exceed the amount required to meet the emergency needs of people in affected areas, or if there are circumstances beyond the control of Australian Red Cross, excess funds will be directed to our work in international crises.

Our Restoring Family Links team may be able to help people who have lost contact with relatives in Türkiye or Syria due to the current situation. We assess cases, and work through the global Family Links Network to assist people to re-establish contact with family members. Please be aware that because of the evolving situation this may take some time.

Our Restoring Family Links hotline is available Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm (AEST) on 1800 875 199 or via email at tracing@redcross.org.au.

Read more about our Restoring Family Links service in Arabic | Kurdish | Turkish

Red Cross will use the personal information you have provided for the primary purpose of processing your donation. If you agree to receive marketing materials from us about our work, we may also use this information to contact you. You can opt out or request amendments to the personal information at any time by emailing contactus@redcross.org.au or calling 1800 RED CROSS (733 276). We take your privacy seriously; you can refer to our privacy policy for more information.

We welcome volunteer support, but we can’t send volunteers overseas to help in an emergency or humanitarian crisis. When we need to send people overseas, we have a roster of skilled aid workers with extensive experience in their field, together with previous international experience, and training in how our emergency operations work.  To volunteer with Red Cross in Australia, visit redcross.org.au/volunteer to search volunteer opportunities.

We really appreciate the generosity, but we are not accepting in-kind donations for food, clothes, medical equipment or other items, as we’re unable to distribute those overseas. There are several good reasons for this. Every item has to be checked, cleaned, sorted, packed, transported, stored and distributed, which hugely increases the cost of the relief effort and diverts from work that may be needed on the ground.    

Also, the items donated aren’t always what people need. But cash helps people make dignified choices that are right for them. Even worse, unwanted boxes of donated goods can clog ports and post offices and actually prevent the delivery of essential items like medicines and relief supplies.

The website DonateResponsibly.org has a great explanation of what can go wrong.

If you have good-quality clothes or household items, our Red Cross Shops would gratefully accept them, to on-sell in Australia and raise funds for our vital work. Find out how you can donate »

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