TODAY 12 February 2023 ~ (Y)OUR SUPPORT FOR NORTHERN SYRIA AND SOUTH-EASTERN-TURKEY IS STILL MORE, MUCH MORE THAN WELCOME: Rajab 15, 1444 AH ~ The plight that befell our Syrian, Suryani, Kurdish and Turkish fellow human beings is only to be described as catastrophic. Two powerful earthquakes have struck in South-Eastern Turkey and Northern Syria. Thousands of people are confirmed dead across Turkey and Syria, with numbers expected to rise. Amongst those affected inside Syria, are Syrians who are still displaced in their own country and living in flimsy shelters, tents and partially destroyed buildings. In Turkey, the impact also includes thousands of refugees, and the communities that have been generously hosting them for nearly 12 years. They are all continously in our thoughts. We are worried about our colleagues Barýþ Seyitvan, Mýzgin Deniz, Mehmet Polat, Seckin Aydin and Erkan Özgen by whom we have been so warmly welcomed in Diyarbakir, back in 2007. We extend our sympathy to our current students, alumni and colleagues from anywhere in Kurdistan, Syria or Turkey. These must be terribly difficult days for all of you. A few DAI students have compiled a list of AID-ORGANISATIONS, big or small, that are welcoming donations, big or small. Find it here (and please know that more options or suggestions for alternative ways of offering support are most welcome!!):
Image-credit: E-flux, NYC: Shop and screening benefit for earthquake relief in Turkey
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL, Aya Majzoub, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa: "Four million people in opposition-held north-west Syria have had to live in appalling conditions with little access to healthcare. This morning, entire buildings collapsed in neighbourhoods already dilapidated by over a decade of war. The immense destruction, coupled with an acute economic crisis and a fierce winter storm, is also hampering the delivery of humanitarian aid". Read the full text.
HOW CAN I HELP ?
*Article published by Al Jazeera Staff: How to donate to Turkey and Syria earthquake disaster response
*The White Helmets: Support Syria's Heroes & Go Fund Me
*The Syria Campaign (human rights advocacy group supporting Syria’s heroes in the struggle for freedom and democracy): Support The White Helmets
*Change.org: NO MEDICINE IN THE EARTHQUAKE ZONE. We ask Pharmaceutical Companies to take action
* Sanatla Dayanışma brings together works donated by artists, and collectors, in order to increase donations made as an earthquake relief. The payments made by collectors for artworks are donated to the civil aid and rescue organizations such as Ahbap and AKUT: Solidarity with Art
*UNHCR (the UN Refugee Agency): Turkey and Syria earthquake emergency
*Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières: MSF scales up response after earthquakes hit south Türkiye and northwest Syria
*The Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations (UOSSM): PROVIDE EARTHQUAKE EMERGENCY RELIEF!
*Unicef: Appeal for earthquake in Turkey and Syria
*German Red Cross: Wie kann ich helfen ?
*Kurdish Red Moon /Heyva Sor a Kurdistanê e. V.: Erdbeben Nordkurdistan & Rojava
*Turkish Red Crescent: Donations for Earthquake in Pazarcık ( town above the epicentre of the deadly quake)
*British Red Cross: Turkey and Syria appeal
*11 Dutch Help-organisations, including the Red Cross, are collaborating under Giro 555: Help slachtoffers aardbeving
*Aktion Deutschland Hilft (joint Aid Organisations Germany): Online-Spenden für die Not- und Katastrophenhilfe Türkei und Syrien
*Bündnis Entwicklung Hilft (11Organisationen): Erdbeben in Syrien und der Türkei
*Islamic Relief: Turkey-Syria earthquake appeal
* فريق ملهم التطوعي /Molhamteam: Earthquake Urgent Response
*AHBAP is an NGO from Turkey that aims to provide all kinds of aid to people in need, in kind and in cash, through donations that are declared transparently (recommended by one of our students from Turkey).
*AKUT, Turkish Search and Rescue Association (NGO): DONATE NOW
*Medico international: Nothilfe Erdbeben
*Oxfam Us: Turkey and Syria earthquake response appeal
*Oxfam UK: Please donate what you can today
* Turkish animal welfare organization: Paw Guards (Pati Koruyucuları Derneği) is an association that promotes the protection of stray animals, has a network of more than 30,000 volunteers and activists across Turkey. You can help the volunteers in their mission to rescue animals from earthquake areas and/or provide food directly.
*Angels Farm Sanctuary provides accommodation for animals in need, most of which have been rescued from abuse or natural disasters.
Supported by AHBAP's undertaking for animals, namely the HAYBAP Ferdinand, the foundation declares all donations transparently. Angels Farm Sanctuary works as H.A.R.K - People and Animal Search and Rescue in the earthquake area.
To become a patron: https://www.patreon.com/angelssanctuary
*Care US: Turkey and Syria earthquakes fund
*Save the Children US: Turkey and Syria earthquakes appeal
*In the UK, the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) is coordinating a joint rapid response by 14 charities including the British Red Cross, Oxfam and Save the Children. The UK government has promised to match the first £5m donated by the public.