Maia AlBarrak ’26
Staff Writer
On February 6, 2023, southeast Turkey (officially the Republic of Türkiye) and northwest Syria suffered a catastrophic natural disaster. An earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale struck both countries, leaving over 41,000 dead and 81,000 in critical conditions, with 47,000 buildings in destruction, according to World Vision.
Syria and Turkey are in a region vulnerable to earthquakes due to their location on the boundary between the African Plate and the Eurasian Plate. In Syria, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck the city of Hama in May 2018, causing significant damage to buildings and infrastructure. There were also reports of casualties, although the exact number is unclear. In Turkey, several earthquakes have occurred in recent years, including a 6.8 magnitude earthquake in January 2020 that struck the city of Elazig in eastern Turkey. This earthquake caused significant damage to buildings and infrastructure, and there were at least 41 reported deaths and many more injuries. In October 2020, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck the city of Izmir in western Turkey, causing significant damage to buildings and infrastructure and resulting in the deaths of at least 115 people.
However, the recent earthquakes have been the most disastrous to strike both countries. According to an article by the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, “the initial earthquake was centered near Gaziantep in south-central Turkey, home to thousands of Syrian refugees and the many humanitarian aid organizations also based there.” (https://disasterphilanthropy.org).
International relief demands were quickly met by rescue teams and humanitarian offers from governments all over the world. As reported by the U.S. Department of State, the United States rapidly activated federal agencies and partners to urgently offer life-saving assistance in close collaboration with Turkish Allies and partner groups in Syria, as instructed by President Biden. This was done within hours of the first earthquake. France has sent rescue teams to Turkey that are made up of 65 firefighters and 71 rescue personnel. Together with non-governmental groups, France has also given Syria $12 million in emergency relief. As search and rescue operations continue among the wreckage of cities, towns, and villages in both countries, the number of deaths is anticipated to climb considerably.
The global Red Cross and Red Crescent network, a nonprofit organization devoted to advancing humanitarian causes and providing relief in times of need and tragedy, expresses its solidarity with the millions of impacted individuals. As reported by the American Red Cross, many people are looking for temporary housing at relatives’ houses, nearby cities, or emergency shelters. Some people are sleeping outside in the cold, in tents, or in their automobiles. In order to provide displaced families with a comfortable place to remain while they plan their next course of action, even though many of their staff members and volunteers have also lost their homes and loved ones, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and Turkish Red Crescent have been working nonstop to aid the impacted areas.
Two weeks after the powerful quake, another earthquake, measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale, struck Turkey resulting in the loss of three lives and injuring over 200 individuals in regions that were previously devastated. The earthquake was felt across a wide region, including Syria, Jordan, Cyprus, Israel, and even as far as Egypt. Additionally, it was followed by a second temblor with a magnitude of 5.8.
In partnership with the Turkish Consulate in Chicago, the Turkish American Cultural Alliance is collecting items for overseas delivery. You can help support families who survived the devastation by donating gently used or new items to this cause.
Turkish Airlines will send the items collected by TACA and the Turkish Consulate in Chicago to the disaster area. A Turkish American Cultural Alliance report states that those displaced need winter clothing, formula and diapers, hygiene products, and shelf-stable food, amongst other items.
Where to make these drop-offs? Head to the TACA Building at 3845 N. Harlem Ave. Chicago, IL 60634 any time between 4 to 7 p.m. on weekdays. Weekend hours are from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays.
To help those impacted by the earthquakes endure this catastrophe and start their recovery, funding is desperately needed. You can make a donation using the QR code provided below.
You can also donate using PayPal. Where 100% of donations made go to your choice of charity, with no deductions and no fees. Charities include SAMS Foundation, International Rescue Committee, World Central Kitchen, Inc, etc. You can donate using the QR code below.
