WASHINGTON, DC – More than two thousand people have been killed so far in Syria and Türkiye after two massive earthquakes and several aftershocks hit Southern Türkiye. A 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit at 4:17 a.m. local time, and a second 7.5 magnitude aftershock followed it nine hours later. Dozens of aftershocks took place throughout the day, and the number of fatalities and injuries continues to climb as rescuers work to extract people from under the rubble.The epicenter of the initial earthquake, Gaziantep, Türkiye, is home to millions of Syrian
refugees, who have been living in miserable conditions amid an economic crisis and increasing pressure to return to Syria. The earthquakes also deeply devastated war-torn parts of northwestern Syria, particularly Aleppo and Idlib provinces, where the majority of infrastructure had already been heavily damaged by years of systemic destruction by Assad’s regime, creating an extreme vulnerability to the impact of the shocks. Several buildings have been completely demolished, and the full extent of the damage is still unknown, as hundreds of families remain unaccounted for.
The natural disaster comes at a time of deteriorating humanitarian conditions in northwestern Syria, where millions lack adequate shelter, healthcare resources, and access to food. In such
conditions, an effective emergency response has been unattainable, while the Syrian people cry out for help from under the rubble. The White Helmets are the primary first response
organization in the area, along with other Syrian based humanitarian organizations. They have been working non-stop to help survivors of the disaster, but the devastation is immense and
much more help is needed. Members of the Syrian White Helmets are reportedly calling for help, as some of their colleagues are trapped in regions controlled by Assad’s government forces.
An adequate response by the international community is more crucial than ever. While President Biden has offered the American help to Turkiye, more action is needed to ensure that aid
reaches people in critical need in Syria.
Supporting Syria-based NGOs is the best way to support the people of today and in the future.
C4SSA urges you to direct your donations to https://www.whitehelmets.org/en/ and https://fundraise.givesmart.com/vf/EarthquakeSyria
