News & Advice

Turkey and Syria Earthquake: How to Help Now

A 7.8-magnitude tremor earthquake has struck south-eastern Turkey–here's what we can do.
Syria and Turkey Earthquake How to Help Now
Imad Alassiry/Unsplash

Two powerful earthquakes have caused devastating damage and are estimated to have killed thousands of people in southeast Turkey and northern Syria. This is also in a region host to millions of refugees who have fled Syria's war. Support is urgently needed as rescuers search for survivors in the rubble of thousands of collapsed buildings, as many hospitals themselves need to be evacuated to ensure the wellbeing of patients and staff. The logistics needed to deliver life-saving aid are made more complicated and catastrophic through closed crossings and crumbling roads.

The best way to support the communities affected right now is to fund the global relief charities providing medical services and essentials such as food, water and sanitation services following the two quakes registering as 7.8 and 7.7 magnitudes on the Richter scale, straddling the Turkey-Syria border.

Personnel and civilians conduct search and rescue operations in Idlib, Syria after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake hits Turkey's Kahramanmaras, on February 6, 2023.

Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

So how can we help?

Donate to global relief organizations, now.

You can help the victims of these earthquakes, and those affected by the damaging 100-plus aftershocks, by supporting the efforts of these charities through much-needed financial donations for emergency supplies—and by sharing this article with anyone you think might want to help fund these relief endeavors.

In the earthquake that happened at 4:16 am, houses in Syria were destroyed.

dia images/Getty Images

Oxfam says: “Southern Turkey has been heavily affected, especially areas around Gaziantep and Hatay/Antakya. These are major hubs for NGOs supporting Syria through cross-border humanitarian operations. The earthquake also hit areas in North West Syria, which continue to be heavily affected by the conflict and host the majority of the 6.7 million Syrians who have had to leave their homes. Oxfam’s response in Syria is currently supporting 1.5 million people.”

Turkish Red Crescent is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent, the country's largest humanitarian initiative, and they are on the ground now offering food and shelter. 

SAMS (Syrian American Medical Society) is a global medical relief effort providing crisis relief in Syria and beyond.

Save the Children and UNICEF are international charities that are mobilizing support in areas in need and helping children now.

How else can you help? 

By raising awareness about the organizations in need of funds, and sharing these links with your friends and family to donate through official channels. We will update this page as more information becomes available.

This article originally appeared on Condé Nast Traveller U.K.