Turkey Appeal
Türkiye earthquake response
Donate a school 'care pack' to a child earthquake survivor or an emergency food bundle to a devastated family
£0 to go
Target: £8,000
This project was completed in February 2024
Thank you to ...
Anon who donated
£46.65Roberta who donated
£52.48Chas who donated
£26.24We made it!
urgent support is required
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNQdviYMbu4
Background
Like us, you’ll have seen, with a heavy heart, the devastation wrought by the two major earthquakes which hit the south-east of the Republic of Türkiye in February. More than 10,000 aftershocks have continued to hinder the relief operation, with an estimated 1.5 million people now made homeless and many more too scared to return to their severely damaged houses.
International Needs Türkiye has been responding since the first tremors struck, with a focus on supporting the child survivors. Volunteer team members have been distributing:
• winter clothing
• gloves and hats
• nappies, baby food and hygiene items
• tents
• hot meals
More than 700 families have been supported so far. Through their network of 20 churches, IN Türkiye is supporting vulnerable families in this time of great need. Alongside their ongoing ministries with Syrian refugees and supporting the local church, they will now be supporting families – whose lives have been turned upside down by this earthquake – for the long term. Can you donate to help us support vulnerable families in Türkiye?
project overview
Our impact
School 'care packs' to ensure continuity of learning
With so many schools and public buildings damaged or entirely destroyed, many children in the quake-hit region face months without being able to attend lessons. IN Türkiye is seeking to supply each child and young person with a care pack that includes pens and pencils, stationery items, art and craft activities, a toy, first aid kit and hygiene items, as well as some basic additional clothing and footwear.
1.5 million
People made homeless through the February 2023 quakes
£46.65
Cost of a school 'care pack' containing stationery and clothing
20
churches currently supported in the region by IN Türkiye
the difference international needs uk can make
We can provide first-aid and hygiene kits, emergency food, shelter and school packs to ensure ongoing education for families in south-eastern Türkiye affected by the disaster
Hot meals and emergency food parcels for families in need
Pencils and pens, with craft activities, to help pupils' learning continue
Robust tents for housing whole families together
stories
IN Türkiye’s Executive Director says:
‘We had hired a mobile kitchen to provide meals for more than 300 people, and became aware of one woman – Aisha* – who kept coming and trying to talk to us. We knew that she wanted to talk to someone for comfort. As we started to prepare food for dinner, one of us was chopping onions. The aroma of chopped onion was in the air and, smelling it, Aisha came over to us again.
‘She told us, in an emotional voice: “When I smelled the onion, I felt as if I were back in my kitchen at home”. We knew her house was damaged and she could not live there any more – the realisation that she was homeless. That feeling made all of us cry – not because of the onion’s effects but because of the trauma and tragedy that she had shared with us.
‘Later on, Aisha told us she was also undergoing cancer treatment. We tried as best as we could to comfort her and provided a hot meal. Most importantly, we were able to pray for her among the rubble of her community.’
*name changed for privacy
How we spend your money
For every £1 you donate to this appeal, we will allocate 25p of your donation to cover general support and running costs. There is a small chance that we will raise more money than is needed for this appeal. If this happens, we'll spend any additional funds on other International Needs projects – wherever the need is greatest.
donateproject updates
June 16th, 2023
Turkiye earthquake update
Update, 16 June 2023
The IN Türkiye team are continuing to meet pressing human needs, focusing on the southern province of Hatay, close to the Syrian border. Around 6,000 families have now been assisted in various ways.
In Phase 2 of the response, hundreds of ‘care packs’ are being distributed to children who are still unable to return to school, their buildings being destroyed in the quakes and with no estimate currently available for reopening. The packs include stationery and craft items, activities, a first aid kit, flip flops and a simple toy.
Plans are also being developed for an extensive Vacation Bible School (holiday Bible club) programme to be held in several locations in Hatay throughout the summer months. These will provide fun activities for 100-120 children at a time, with two sessions a day and an evening meal being provided for attendees.
More than 500 women will be reached too, with an opportunity to join in discussions at peer support groups being held at the same time. These will provide respite from childcare and a chance to have basic needs met, with the provision of feminine hygiene item and an opportunity to have a session with a hairdresser!
The IN Team reports that locally-circulating figures indicate that the quake has orphaned 20,000 children in the south of the country (enumerating children who have lost both parents). Data for children who have lost one parent or other family member(s) is not currently available. The VBS programme will be designed to be sensitive, and also accessible to children incurring disabilities during the disaster.
March 16th 2023
