The Turkey Syria Earthquake: Where to Donate — On February 6th, a massive, magnitude 7.8 earthquake (and destructive aftershocks) killed thousands of people in southeastern Turkey and northwestern Syria. It caused serious damage, collapsing buildings and trapping thousands of people (of all ages, including countless children) underneath the rubble. There is currently a race to find survivors, with the death toll passing 11,000 as I write this, and hundreds of thousands are seeking shelter. Immediate international aid is needed to help with this immense level of devastation.
Here is a list of places Canadians can donate to. I’ve added a brief description of each charity (taken from their websites) and a link to where you can donate. I’ve also included a link where you can learn more about each charity. Please consider donating what you can – every bit makes a difference. ♡
The Turkey Syria Earthquake: Where To Donate
Action Against Hunger
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“Action Against Hunger Canada is an international humanitarian organization that fights hunger and its root causes worldwide.”
Please consider donating to their Turkey and Syria Earthquake Emergency Fund to “help make sure urgent, life-saving aid reaches families in need as quickly as possible.”
Care
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“CARE works around the globe to save lives, defeat poverty and achieve social justice.”
Please consider donating to their Turkey Syria Earthquakes Fund “to rush emergency aid including food, shelter, hygiene kits, cold weather supplies and cash assistance.”
Doctors Without Borders
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The Doctors Without Borders “medical teams act fast to save people’s lives in conflict zones, natural disasters and epidemics. [They] go where [they] are needed most.”
Please consider donating to Doctors Without Borders to help provide aid as they scale up their response to the overwhelming needs in the area.
GlobalMedic
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“GlobalMedic’s goal has always been to get the right aid to the right people at the right time. Professional emergency workers along with other professional and skilled volunteers help deliver [their] programs to the people who need it most.”
Please consider donating to GlobalMedic as they are responding to the Turkey/Syria Earthquake.
HelpAge Canada
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“Whether it is isolation, loneliness, food security, safety, shelter, access to healthcare, accessibility, or giving voice, HelpAge Canada assists, empowers and connects older persons in Canada and around the world.”
Please consider donating to HelpAge Canada to help them bring vital supplies to those in need following this devastating earthquake.
Humanitarian Coalition
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“The Humanitarian Coalition brings together leading aid organizations to provide Canadians with a simple and effective way to help during international humanitarian disasters.”
Please consider donating to the Humanitarian Coalition as members are responding to the earthquake, and international aid is needed now.
IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation
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“IHH has been working since 1992 with the purpose of delivering aid to all people who are in need, who have experienced a catastrophe, who are victims of war, natural disaster…” and more.
Please consider donating to IHH as they “deliver water, food and emergency supplies to the region for … citizens affected by the earthquake.”
International Rescue Committee
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“The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people affected by humanitarian crises—including the climate crisis—to survive, recover and rebuild their lives.”
Please consider donating to the IRC to help them “send emergency supplies to children and families. All first monthly gifts matched.”
Islamic Relief Canada
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“Islamic Relief works with communities to strengthen their resilience to calamities, and .. provide vital emergency aid when disasters occur.”
Please consider donating to Islamic Relief as “international aid is needed now in order to reach and save as many lives as possible.”
Oxfam
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Oxfam’s “mission is to build lasting solutions to poverty and injustice, focusing on improving lives and promoting the rights of women and girls. ..Together with local humanitarian partners, [they] respond to urgent emergency crises worldwide and stay for the long-term to help rebuild.”
Please consider donating to Oxfam as they “prepar[e] a response to this disaster”…reaching the areas most affected.
Project Hope
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“For more than 60 years, Project HOPE has transformed the health and well-being of people and communities around the world. [They] work on the front lines of the world’s health challenges, partnering hand-in-hand with communities, health care workers and public health systems to ensure sustainable change.”
Please consider donating to Project Hope as their “emergency response team is on the ground and working quickly to save as many lives as possible.”
Save The Children
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“When crisis strikes, and children are most vulnerable, [Save The Children] are among the first to respond and the last to leave. [They] ensure children survive, and that their right to learn, play and enjoy a childhood is protected, no matter what is going on around them.”
Please consider donating to their Children’s Emergency Fund to help as they quickly respond to the earthquakes.
ShelterBox
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ShelterBox “provide[s] shelter, essential items and technical assistance to help some of the world’s most vulnerable people recover and rebuild their homes after disaster.”
Please consider donating to ShelterBox as their “response teams are headed to [Turkey] to better understand how [they] can help.”
Turkish Red Crescent
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“Following the earthquake, the Turkish Red Crescent has started the delivery of aid materials for … all the regions affected by the earthquake.”
Please consider donating to their Emergency Aid fund as they help provide basic needs such as food and shelter.
Unicef Canada
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“UNICEF is the world’s farthest-reaching humanitarian organization for children. Across 190 countries and territories, and in the world’s toughest places, [they] work day in and day out to help children survive.”
Please consider donating to UNICEF as they are “preparing to support the humanitarian response [to the earthquakes where thousands of children are at risk] in coordination with [their] partners.”
Is there a charity that I’ve missed that you’ll be donating to? Or one on this list that you turn to again and again? What are some ways you give back to areas affected by such natural disasters? I’d really love to hear – please leave me a comment below.
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