Turkish/Syrian Relief
Disclaimer: The links in this blog may be disturbing to some readers. Please take care while reading and interacting with the information presented. In addition, while ARMY Magazine has taken every precaution to ensure the relief companies mentioned are reputable, we advise you to please also exercise caution.
In the midst of the night on February 6, 2023, a series of devastating earthquakes struck southeastern Turkey and northern Syria. The first carried a magnitude of 7.8 and struck with its epicenter in Kahramanmaras, in southeastern Turkey. Several aftershocks followed, including a second quake with a magnitude of 7.6, causing vast damage in cities such as Antakya, Gaziantep, Sanliurfa and Diyarbakir in Turkey, and Idlib, Aleppo and Hama in Syria. According to Al Jazeera, more than 9,000 aftershocks have occurred, causing even more widespread damage.
Rescue efforts began immediately and, as of February 25, 2023, over 530,000 people have been evacuated in Turkey alone. In addition, the Turkish government has said that 173,000 buildings have so far been recorded as collapsed or severely damaged, with more than 1.9 million people taking refuge in temporary shelters or hotels and public facilities. While there are some wonderful survival stories, there still remains a devastating fact: the death toll has surpassed 50,000.
According to BTSGalaxyTurkey on Twitter, words are not sufficient enough to describe the amount of damage, as there has not been a disaster of this magnitude in 500 years. Turkey itself has shifted, railroads have buckled, and long cracks have appeared on airstrips. The area affected is larger than some European countries, including Hungary, Portugal, and Switzerland. Waves were felt as far away as Denmark and Greenland, while seismic waves (those not felt but shown on instruments) have been recorded in the United States.
As with any disaster, the need for relief does not cease when the immediate danger has passed. There is a need for blankets, food, water, heating products, and hygiene sets. There are still major communication issues, as well. Not to mention, there are many pollutants in the air, causing people to become ill.
Those in Turkey and Syria need our help! According to Bangtan Turkey on Twitter, AHBAP is the most reliable foundation helping people and providing relief. There are also other organizations to consider, as well.
ARMY, let’s do what we do best. In a time of crisis, let’s become each other’s hope and support those in Turkey and Syria. If you are in a position to help, please do.
Take care, ARMY, of yourselves and each other. Borahae!
Written by: Marcie
Edited by: Sanam
ARMY Magazine does not own any of the photos/videos shared in our blog. No copyright infringement intended.
Comments