(February 06, 2023) –
In response to the devastation caused in Turkey and Syria by an earthquake early this morning, leading Canadian aid agencies—working together as the Humanitarian Coalition—are raising funds to rush assistance to people in need.
FACTS
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A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southern Turkey, close to the border with northern Syria, in the early hours of Monday February 6, 2023.
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Hundreds of thousands of children are currently stranded outside of their homes and are becoming even more vulnerable to family separation, exploitation and abuse.
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4.1 million people in north-west Syria already depend on humanitarian assistance, due to years of conflict.
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Heavy rain and snow is making the situation worse for survivors who have lost their homes.
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Humanitarian Coalition members will be providing emergency food, water, shelter and health care to survivors.
QUOTES
“Our teams are already on the ground responding to the immediate needs with clean water, emergency relief tents and protection. The situation for children affected by the earthquake – especially children who were already displaced by conflict and now face a harsh winter – is desperate. We're asking Canadians to respond to the urgent and lifesaving needs of children and their families affected by this earthquake and its aftershocks."
— Helen Barclay-Hollands, Fragile and Humanitarian Programs manager, World Vision Canada
“Humanitarian needs were already extremely severe in Northwest Syria, and this devastating earthquake has added trauma to ongoing crisis there. Health facilities were already badly equipped and unable to cope with need, but now many have been destroyed. Families are trying to survive with no homes, no access to food, in sub-zero temperatures whilst also attempting to deal with the physical and mental impact of this earthquake. We call on the international community to prioritize these people, who have already been through so much.”
— Johan Mooij, National Director, World Vision Syria Response
“This news is heartbreaking, but we can all do something. Our member charities are rallying together to respond, and we invite Canadians to join us.”
— Richard Morgan, executive director, Humanitarian Coalition
The following are members of the Humanitarian Coalition: Action Against Hunger, Canadian Foodgrains Bank, Canadian Lutheran World Relief, CARE Canada, Doctors of the World, Humanity & Inclusion, Islamic Relief Canada, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam-Québec, Plan Canada, Save the Children Canada and World Vision Canada.
Canadians can give to Turkey/Syria earthquake relief online through this link.
Joint appeal with the Humanitarian Coalition
