ShelterBox Earthquake Relief  - Turkey & Syria

  
 

Responds to Turkey and Syria Earthquakes

www.shelterboxusa.org

ShelterBox is making an emergency fundraising appeal. We believe that the best way for us to be impactful is by staying flexible, and it is essential that we have funds available to support those affected by disasters around the world.

To make a donation, you can mail a check directly to ShelterBox USA at:
P.O. Box 5055
Santa Barbara, CA  93150

Or you can donate online at https://www.shelterboxusa.org

 

Contact Volunteer Ambassadors Leo Lawrenson, leo@lawrenson.com or Don Jorgensen, donjorgensen@comcast.net  to request a club presentation. And watch our latest reports from Ukraine and elsewhere: https://www.shelterboxusa.org/home-page/news/events/

ShelterBox has sent emergency response teams to carry out crucial assessments. We’re speaking with our existing partners in Syria and Rotary contacts in Turkey to understand more about what’s needed and how we might provide support where it is needed most.
 
The humanitarian need in Turkey and Syria is immense and growing – it's the most devastating earthquake to hit the region in 100 years. The death toll has surpassed 40,000 and thousands of buildings have been destroyed in both countries leaving people homeless, with nowhere to sleep, in the middle of a bitter winter.

A powerful 7.8m earthquake struck southern Turkey, close to the northern Syria border, at 4.17am local time (1.17am GMT) on Monday 6 February. The epicenter was about 20 miles from Gaziantep - a major city and provincial capital. Minutes later there was a strong 6.7m aftershock, followed by another major 7.5m earthquake striking hours later in the same region.

ShelterBox provides different combinations of emergency shelter and essential household items depending on what is needed. This could be tents and shelter kits, stoves, thermal blankets, and clothing to keep people warm through the freezing winter nights. It could be cash to help people buy what they need to survive. Or it could solar lights that help people when there is no electricity.

Head of Emergency Response for ShelterBox, Alice Jefferson says: “Emergency responses to a disaster of this scale can be a huge logistical nightmare especially against the clock. Freezing temperatures and heavy rain are causing extra complications. The poor weather poses a real threat to life for people whose homes are now rubble or unsafe to return to. Access and communication are challenging and that’s why responses must be well-coordinated to make sure that the right aid is getting to the right people, in the right place, at the right time.”