Earthquake Devastates Türkiye and Syria, government donation match announced

Ottawa | February 08, 2023

A Turkish Red Crescent worker stands in front of rubble after earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. On Monday February 6 a massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake tore through Gaziantep, Türkiye, impacting 10 provinces in the south and southeast of the country, as well as areas in northern Syria. The initial earthquake was quickly followed by a second earthquake and multiple aftershocks.

For countless people living in Türkiye and Syria, the life they knew has collapsed. The scale of the damage is immense. Homes have been destroyed, thousands of people have lost their lives or are now homeless in sub-zero temperatures without protection from the elements.

In Syria, the humanitarian situation is dire. With more than 90 per cent of people living in poverty, years of conflict, economic deterioration, COVID-19, cholera, unseasonal weather conditions and now earthquakes have left people in dire need of humanitarian assistance. The areas hit by the earthquake are hosting hundreds of thousands of displaced people.
 
The Red Cross Red Crescent is working to deliver emergency relief and to get help to those impacted by the earthquakes as quickly as possible.
 

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Thousands of Red Cross Red Crescent personnel are providing vital on-the-ground support including search and rescue, first aid, transporting injured people to the hospital and are providing emergency relief items including food, water, blankets and tents to shelter people from the elements.

Money raised will enable the Red Cross Red Crescent to provide immediate relief, ongoing recovery efforts, and resiliency and preparedness activities in impacted and surrounding areas. The activities and areas impacted may evolve based on emerging needs and compounding humanitarian crises.
 
Thanks to the generosity of Canadian Red Cross donors, the Government of Canada match of $10 million has been reached as of February 12, 2023. Your donation will continue to provide vital humanitarian assistance to people impacted by the earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria. Thank you for your support.
 
People in Canada wishing to help are encouraged to make a donation to the Canadian Red Cross Earthquake in Türkiye and Syria Appeal. Donations can be made online at www.redcross.ca or by calling 1-800-418-1111.