The recent events in Turkey and Syria are beyond heartbreaking and difficult to comprehend. Here's how you can make a difference.
We can’t begin to understand what the families in Turkey and Syria are facing and the journey that lies ahead for so many as they deal with loss on an unimaginable scale. Although we can feel helpless so far away in Singapore as we watch the horror play out on news channels, there are lots of ways we can make a difference. Here’s a list of charities and organisations offering support to those affected and how you can donate.
How you can help families in Turkey and Syria following the earthquake
1. Donate to the Singapore Red Cross (SRC)
Singapore Red Cross (SRC) has set up a campaign for their humanitarian response and has pledged USD $50,000 in humanitarian aid to the Turkish Red Crescent (TRC) and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC), respectively, to directly support their ongoing relief efforts. You can make a donation easily via PayNow, a fund transfer, or using the QR code found here. You can also make a donation in person at the SRC offices.
2. Donate winter items (currently suspended)
Initially, warm clothing and other items were requested by the Turkish embassy, but due to an overwhelming response in Singapore, the decision has been made to pause donations of goods for the time being. The Turkish ambassador to Singapore, Mehmet Burcin Gonenli, also noted that the requirements for items are changing from day to day, so the collection will be paused for the moment to allow for the existing donations to be processed.
3. Donate to Oxfam
Oxfam is working with partner organisations in Syria and Turkey to deliver aid and support to families. $60 could provide blankets for six people to keep them warm, and $100 could provide emergency food for two families for ten days. Find out more about Oxfam’s work here.
4. Donate to UNICEF
UNICEF is working to help families and children affected by the earthquake by providing access to safe drinking water, sanitation and nutrition supplies. They are also looking for donations to support healthcare and medical supplies, as well as protection for children who are displaced from their families.
4. Donate to Save the Children
Save the Children is also working on the ground to provide urgent aid to families and children in both Syria and Turkey. They are working to provide a range of support, from shelter materials for families who have been displaced to psychosocial support for children who have survived the devastating disaster.
5. Donate to Doctors Without Borders
Doctors Without Borders are working to offer lifesaving care, medical supplies, and support for local hospitals and partners following the deadly earthquake in Syria and Turkey. The teams are focused on northwest Syria and have been able to work since the early hours of the disaster to respond to this influx because they already had a presence in the region. They have also donated supply kits to other areas and are offering their support and expertise.
6. Donate via Global Giving
Global Giving have a dedicated fund to support earthquake relief and recovery efforts. The fund helps first responders meet survivors’ immediate needs for food, fuel, clean water, medicine, and shelter. It will also prioritise longer-term recovery efforts run by local, vetted organisations in the impacted areas.
7. Businesses supporting the relief fund in Singapore
As well as donating directly through the above charities, you can also make choices when you’re out and about in Singapore to support the many businesses also taking the initiative to donate to those affected by the earthquake. For instance, Wild Honey Mandarin Gallery & Wild Honey Scotts Square have pledged to give 50% of the proceeds from their ‘The Turkish’ breakfast to the Singapore Red Cross Earthquake Relief Fund from 11 February onwards for a four-week period.
We’d love to hear about other businesses offering similar initiatives so we can shine a spotlight on them and add them to this list – let us know if you spot any, and we’ll update our list.
Thank you.
Lead image: Khaled Akacha via Pexels