March 8, 2023 News

5 ways Caritas Czech Republic helps Turkey and Syria affected by the earthquake

The catastrophic earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria on Monday 6th of February has claimed more than 52,000 lives. The earthquake affected up to 26 million locals. People in the affected areas are in urgent need of humanitarian aid. Caritas Czech Republic is helping on the ground thanks to funds from the Caritas for Turkey and Syria fundraising campaign. What does our help look like?

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We are providing immediate humanitarian aid to people affected by the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. In the Turkish-Syrian border region, we have a longstanding cooperation with local partner organisations. This has enabled us to be immediately involved in the relief effort on the ground.

1) We are distributing food and water

Food aid is still desperately needed in the places affected by the earthquake. Our partners on the ground are distributing food parcels sufficient to feed a family of five to six for one month. There is also a shortage of drinking water in the affected regions. Even in a normal situation, bottled water is the norm in these places, and it is now in short supply. We are therefore also distributing drinking water to the people affected by the earthquake.

2) We are providing temporary shelters, distributing mattresses, blankets and warm clothes

Millions of people have lost their homes due to the earthquake. Many locals whose homes were not destroyed in the earthquake are afraid to return to them because of the aftershocks.

"The freezing weather is worsening an already desperate situation. People are constantly outdoors, sleeping in cars or by fires. Our colleagues are therefore helping to provide safe shelter on the ground in large tents for people affected by the earthquake. They are also distributing mattresses, blankets, warm clothes and heaters to keep the tents warm," says our colleague Muhammed Hammady directly from the site. 

3) We are building emergency latrines and distributing hygiene kits

Ensuring decent sanitation in earthquake-affected areas is absolutely crucial at this time. Especially to prevent the spread of disease and epidemics in desperate conditions. Our colleagues are distributing hygiene supplies on the ground and building emergency latrines with water supplies. Cholera has become more prevalent in Syria in recent months, so the emphasis on ensuring sanitation is acute. 

4) We are identifying locations to provide decent and more permanent shelter

Affected people also need longer-term assistance as soon as possible. They need to be provided with durable shelter as soon as possible. Our partners are therefore already on the ground identifying suitable places where new shelters could grow. 

"People affected by the earthquake will also need to be provided with more permanent housing. In Turkey, they are already moving to other cities that were not affected. These people will also need financial assistance in the form of vouchers to buy food and material aid," says Anna Volfová, Caritas Czech Republic's relief coordinator for Turkey and Syria. 

5) We are helping in the most vulnerable regions

Humanitarian aid is heading to Turkey and Syria to help the most vulnerable. In Syria, the situation is even worse because the affected area has become a temporary refuge for millions of people displaced by the war. These people are already living in very poor conditions. The people of rebel-held territory are not provided with sufficient support from the central government. They are dependent on the help of local humanitarian organisations to meet the basic needs of life and to rebuild.

Together with our partner organisations Violet and SARD, we are helping in Syria directly in the Idlib and Aleppo regions. In Turkey, our partner organisation IBC is providing assistance in Hatay province, which was severely affected by the earthquake.

How can you help

At the moment, financial support will help the most. With your financial donations we are able to purchase material aid on the spot, which is desperately needed at the moment. Even a small donation will help provide food or water for affected families, allow them to sleep warm and dry, and provide decent sanitation.

Donate to the Caritas for Turkey and Syria fundraising appeal and join us in helping the people affected by the devastating earthquake. Thank you to everyone who chooses to help.