How You Can Support Folks in Turkey, Syria and Neighboring Countries
Following the devastating earthquake and aftershocks that affected Turkey, Syria and other neighboring countries, there has been a need to understand how to best support individuals in those areas. Especially, given that various individuals in our community were impacted as well. This blog post below has an extensive list of ways to help - both monetarily and via actions - which has been verified by trusted community members.
This blogpost will be updated as our community members share more resources.
Initiatives Seeking Donations
The following initiatives, verified by trusted community members, are currently collecting funds to support affected individuals and communities in the region. They range from organizations doing search and rescue operations to others doing emergency assistance. Please donate if you are able to - any amount helps. However, we also include below other non-monetary ways you can support.
Syria
The White Helmets - Make a Donation
Syria Relief - Earthquake Emergency Appeal
Armenian Relief Cross of Syria - Make a Donation
Karam Foundation - Earthquake Emergency Fund
The Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) - Earthquake Relief Syria
Local Support & Solidarity Initiatives
Beirut, Lebanon: Donation Center: Emergency Room (sending to Aleppo and Hama), follow them on IG: emergencyroombeirut
Berlin, Germany: Donation Center: Oyoun Berlin is collecting donations, follow them on IG: oyounberlin
Small financial grants for women journalists and human rights defenders affected by the Syria-Turkey Earthquake - Application Form
Turkey
Ahbap - Make a Donation
AKUT - Make a Donation
HEYVASOR (Kurdistan Red Crescent) - Make a Donation
Aman Project, Fundraiser to support LGBTQ+ refugees affected by the earthquake - Made a Donation
Local Support & Solidarity Initiatives
Istanbul, Volunteer to House Syrian Families
Turkey, Deprem, an application created by volunteers working in the field of information technologies in order to collect search and rescue efforts and help and support requests in a common database. In addition they provide you with three options with which you can support those affected. Offering a ride; donating institutions; provide machinery (such as excavators and so on).
Turkey, afetbilgi.com, a website prepared by a group of METU students and graduates to verify important information. but it also offers an option to support. by selection "other donation" and then a city where you would like to send support it gives you options of what is out there.
Joint Fundraisers (Turkey and Northern Syria)
Baitulmaa - Emergency Earthquake Response
Union of Medical Relief and Care Organizations - Make a Donation
The Center for Civil Society and Democracy (CCSD) - Emergency Response Donation
Basmeh & Zeitooneh - Earthquake Disaster Response in Turkey and Syria
MedGlobal - Earthquake Emergency Health Aid
Other Ways to Help
If you are unable to provide financial support, here are other ways to support:
Share these relief initiatives on your social media, and/or your network, noting that these have been verified by community members. Helping amplify trusted initiatives is incredibly important.
Understand that community members connected to that region may be impacted. Check in with colleagues or friends if it's appropriate. However, be conscious that their communication may be slow for various reasons, and they may not want to talk about it.
A Note to those Affected
Please take the time to rest, to be well, to support your loved ones, and to let us know when and if there is anything the staff at Team CommUNITY can do. Please remember that we may be able to provide psychosocial support in particular cases. If you are interested, please reach out to CMHP@digitalrights.community