Update to CRS Response to Earthquake Victims in Syria and Turkey

On February 6, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake devastated large areas of southern Turkey and northwest Syria. Since then, several earthquakes and aftershocks have been confirmed in the same region—including a 5.6 magnitude quake on February 27. At least 8.8 million people are affected across both countries, with the death toll surpassing 50,000 and continuing to rise. The earthquakes led to the total destruction of homes and infrastructure, and left millions of people without food, water and shelter.

Areas most affected in Turkey include Kahramanmaraş, Hatay, Osmaniye, Adıyaman, Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, Diyarbakır, Malatya, Adana and Yesilyurt. Iskanderun, a coastal city, also experienced heavy flooding. Northern Syria was heavily affected in Aleppo, Idlib, Hama and Latakia—areas already devastated by war. Many survivors are in urgent need of medical care, counseling and other assistance. Public hospitals are stretched beyond capacity. Relief efforts have been hampered by roads that were damaged by the quakes.

CRS Support of Church Partners
Catholic Relief Services is supporting the response of Catholic partners whose teams mobilized immediately to help people to safety—even though many of their centers were damaged or destroyed. The churches, shelters and community centers of many CRS-supported responders were immediately filled with displaced and traumatized families. CRS has been supporting these partners as they provide safe and warm refuge, mattresses and bedding, hot meals, hygiene supplies, winter supplies and emotional support.

With homes and apartment buildings destroyed, the care of families is urgent in the months to come. CRS plans to support 12,000 families, or 60,000 people, with comprehensive assistance in affected urban areas, as well as in rural communities far from the reach of the larger-scale, government-led responses. Priorities for continued CRS support to their partner organizations include the following:

• food
• shelter and community infrastructure
• living and household supplies
• cash and voucher assistance
• water hygiene and sanitation
• counseling/emotional care and other social services

For more information about the CRS’ response to this disaster, including a short video, please go to their Global Emergency Update webpage.

Financial contributions continue to be needed for these relief efforts. Catholic Relief Services is extremely grateful to the parishes that have already taken special collections for the earthquake victims.

Please note that checks from parishes and individuals should be made out to Catholic Relief Services and sent directly to CRS Donor Services and not to Catholic Charities East Bay.

Please note in the memo line that the donation is for Syria and Turkey Earthquakes Relief and send to:
Catholic Relief Services
P.O. Box 5200
Harlan, IA 51593-0700
To give online, please go to  Earthquakes rock Turkey and Syria (crs.org)