Want to help the people of Turkey and Syria? Trusted ways to donate from NC
A 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Turkey and Syria Monday. Hundreds of aftershocks hit the region in the aftermath. More than 11,100 people have died as of the latest reports on Wednesday, Feb. 8.
International counties, including the United States, are sending search and rescue teams. Local groups in the Carolinas are fundraising to continue the humanitarian effort in the Middle East.
Here’s how you can help from North Carolina, through trusted organizations:
Organizations helping Syria, Turkey
▪ UNICEF’s emergency response prioritizes water, sanitation and hygiene, child protective services, nutrition and education. To donate to UNICEF’s efforts, visit unicefusa.org.
▪ The Turkish Embassy in Washington, D.C. is collecting clothing and medical donations to ship overseas. Place any of the listed items below in clear bags and mail them to the Turkish Embassy at 2525 Massachusetts Ave. N.W. in Washington, D.C., zip code 20008.
Blankets
Tents, sleeping bags and pocket warmers
Winter clothing (jackets, gloves, headgear)
Over-the-counter medications and pain killers for cold and flu
The Washington Post put together a list of international organizations helping Syria and Turkey in the earthquake aftermath:
▪ The International Red Cross and Red Crescent: Turkish Red Crescent Teams — part of the International Red Cross — in Turkey and Syria are providing hot meals and drinks, shipping needed blood and plasma into affected areas and providing survivors with psychosocial support, the American Red Cross said. The Turkish Red Crescent said it has mobilized 77 catering vehicles, five mobile kitchens and nearly 2,000 tents. To donate and learn more, visit ifrc.org.
▪ Doctors Without Borders: Doctors Without Borders teams have already begun working in the affected areas, including at “impacted and overwhelmed” health facilities in northern Syria. The humanitarian medical NGO said its teams are reinforcing and supporting local medical teams, as well as donating emergency medical and essential life kits. To donate and learn more, visit doctorswithoutborders.org.
▪ Oxfam: The British-founded group said it is gathering information on the scale of the destruction to come up with short- and long-term response plans. Oxfam said its Turkish affiliate group partners with dozens of women’s cooperatives, and is working with them to assess what is needed. To donate and learn more, visit oxfam.org.uk.
▪ Save the Children: The international NGO said it has established a response team in Turkey to support the national emergency response plan. It added that it is working to assess the scale of damage in northwest Syria and Turkey, and is planning to support winterization and the provision of emergency kits. To donate and learn more, visit savethechildren.org.uk.
(Source: washingtonpost.com/world)
This latest disaster will only make living conditions more difficult for the 4.1 million people — mostly women and children — in northwest Syria who already depend on humanitarian assistance, according to UNICEF. Many are internally displaced after fleeing violence during Syria’s protracted civil war, while the region struggles with an ongoing cholera outbreak and bitter winter weather.
Turkish organizations in North Carolina need your help
The Triangle has a few Turkish organizations currently fundraising for those impacted in Turkey. The organizations are also donating items to the Turkish Embassy in Washington, D.C. to be shipped via Turkish Airlines to people in need.
“Day and night, we are watching the news and trying to keep in touch with people in the area now. We’re working with a lot of organizations and nonprofits in Turkey, collecting money and items so they can be distributed to needy people,” said Ismail Arslan, board chairman at the Sancar Turkish Cultural and Community Center. (“Sancar” is pronounced “sun-JAR.”)
The Center, located in Chapel Hill, is a Turkish nonprofit organization that provides educational and social services.
“Along with all the money we can, we’re donating winter items. Winter is really harsh there — there are three to four inches of snow in some areas,” Arslan said.
To donate, visit bridgetoturkiye.org and click “Donate” on the site’s homepage.
The Bridge to Turkiye Fund, also located in Chapel Hill, encourages Turkish-American donors in North Carolina to support Turkey’s work by giving financially to trusted local partners. The Bridge to Turkiye Fund is partnering with AHBAP, an on-the-ground organization delivering disaster relief.
A third Turkish organization in the Triangle — the American Turkish Organization of North Carolina, located in Cary — is collecting donations online.
To donate, visit ata-nc.org and click “Donate to the Kahramanmaraş Earthquake Fund” on the site’s homepage.
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