The devastating earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria have killed at least 50,000 people with many more injured, tens of thousands still missing and hundreds of thousands homeless, according to the United Nations.
United Way is stepping up, as we always do during crises. United Way Worldwide is partnering closely with MATAN/United Way Israel, who is working to assess and respond to the short and long-term recovery needs. They're working with local partners to collect food, clothing and other essentials, while coordinating shipments to those critically in need. In addition, MATAN/United Way Israel is working with healthcare organizations to coordinate medical and long-term trauma care that will be critical to those who were impacted by the devastation.
By donating to United Way, you’re supporting vetted, nonpartisan organizations on the ground and providing vital help to those who need it most. This situation is fluid and there is no doubt the needs will be great and will continue for some time.
By donating to this fund, you will receive a U.S. tax receipt. United Way Worldwide is unable to provide tax receipts for non-U.S. donations.Turkey and Syria Earthquake Relief Fund
HOPE AND RECOVERY
According to the New York Times, many survivors are still without heat and electricity along a 200-mile swath of mountainous terrain in Turkey. On a road in the hard-hit province of Hatay, electricity poles are leaning at extreme angles. In the devastated city of Antakya, people in winter jackets are huddled around thickets of power strips to charge their cellphones.
Across the border in northwestern Syria, where millions displaced by the country’s civil war had been enduring a brutal winter without heating when the earthquake hit, power outages are creating fuel shortages in hospitals, according to the United Nations. Snowfall and below freezing temperatures have further impeded rescue efforts.
Bereaved family members on the Syrian side of the border waited in the bitter cold to receive the bodies of relatives who had died in Turkey, in keeping with religious practices that require interrment within 24 hours. Syria lodged a formal request for aid with the European Union, but assistance has been slow to arrive with the impact of the country’s civil war complicating efforts.
In times like these when the challenges seem insurmountable for individuals and families who have lost everything—their home, their business, their school–United Way is committed to using its 135 years of experience in mobilizing resources and leading collaborative efforts to help communities access resources like housing, food and employment.