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This week, a special appeal in light of recent events unfolding in Turkey and Syria, following the devastating earthquake that has hit the region. With thousands dead, and many thousands more injured, the rescue and recovery operation continues. Now, with the winter cold biting, many are left without warm shelter, or clean drinking water.
This is personal to us at myHSN – our co-founder, Dr Yakup Kilic, has family and friends in Turkey, directly affected by this natural disaster. These are normal people, who were going about their daily lives only last week. Volunteers and rescue teams have descended upon the region to aid in the rescue and recovery effort, but financial and logistical support is required to assist the operation. Please read on to find out how you can help and where to donate.
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What?
In the early hours of 6th February 2023, a deadly earthquake struck at the border between Turkey and Syria leading to catastrophic damage and devastating loss of life. The epicentre of the earthquake was in Kahramanmaraş in Turkey, and was felt as far away as Egypt.
Thousands of buildings were destroyed in the immediate aftermath, trapping many thousands of people beneath debris.
It is now estimated that about 46,000 people have died, with millions more people displaced, on the backdrop of a cold winter with temperatures below freezing. All rescue efforts are being hampered due to unbearable conditions, though survivors are still being uncovered from beneath the debris.
Why?
Turkey is a known earthquake hotspot, lying at the junction of three tectonic plates (see red line in map below). These plates move a couple of centimetres every year. Two tectonic plates can move away from each other, toward each other, or sometimes up against each other, causing the continent above them to move. These movements are called plate tectonics, which are the cause of earthquakes.
The epicentre of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake was in the Turkish province of Kahramanmaras, near to the Turkish-Syrian border. Another 7.5 magnitude earthquake was measured shortly after Gaziantep province of Turkey.
This is not the first time that Turkey has experienced a major earthquake. In 2020 almost 33,000 small earthquakes were recorded in the region. According to Disaster and Management authority (AFAD), 33 were of a magnitude more than 4.0 on the Richter scale.
In 1999 two 7.4 earthquakes resulted in 18,000 deaths. Later in 2011, more than 500 people died when a 7.1 magnitude earthquake shook the eastern city of Van.
Map of Turkey demonstrating fault lines in dark red
How (does this affect you)?
If you live outside of Turkey, this may not affect you directly. However within Turkey, many have been affected, with millions now homeless, and about 46,000 dead. This figure continues to rise despite many of these deaths being preventable.
Following the earthquake, organisations large and small have mobilised to the affected area. These organisations include Medecins San Frontiers, and internal Turkish organisations such as AFAD and AHBAP. Many countries around the world have deployed specialist rescue and recovery teams. These teams now comprise over 100,000 volunteers mobilised to the epicentre of the quake, to help remove people from under rubble and to provide first aid.
The Turkish community in the UK has united to arrange shipments of clothes and essentials to the affected areas. It is clear from talking to people on the front line of the rescue effort, more is required. Hospitals are rapidly running out of basic medical items such as paracetamol or intravenous fluids. Survivors are now dying of hypothermia and hunger due to lack of access to shelter, clean water and food.
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Donate to help
This is a desperate plea to our readers (and beyond) to donate as much or as little as possible to help get aid to where it is needed, as soon as possible. To deliver aid directly to the areas most in need, please consider donating to the following links:
- ahbap – https://bagis.ahbap.org/bagis?currency=GBP
- AFAD – https://en.afad.gov.tr/earthquake-donation-accounts
- Official DEC (Disasters Emergency Committee) appeal – https://www.dec.org.uk/appeal/turkey-syria-earthquake-appeal
- Islamic Relief – https://www.islamic-relief.org.uk/donation/
- ahbap – https://ahbap.org/disasters-turkey
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How to avoid charity scams:
- Ensure the organisation you are donating to has a proven track record of delivering aid to those in need
- Avoid unfamiliar agencies and websites (the ones above have been verified by the author)
- Identify local initiatives that are helping in the area and donate directly
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At this difficult time, we appreciate your generosity and help. Thankyou.
With a heavy heart,
Dr Yakup Kilic MRCP – University College London Hospitals Foundation Trust
Dr Berkay Karahacioglu MRCP – University College London Hospitals Foundation Trust
Dr Yunus Yasar MD – Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
