On Monday morning, 6th February 2023, a powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit southern Turkiye and surrounding regions killed at least 5,000 people, with the number expected to continue to rise. Hundreds of people are still believed to be trapped under rubble as rescue workers search mounds of wreckage in cities and towns across the area.
In Turkiye, more than 3,500 people have died across seven provinces and surrounding areas, with over 22,000 people injured. The death toll is climbing. It is estimated that nearly 6,000 buildings have been destroyed, and a staggering 13 million people are left homeless or displaced with no means to find food, clean water, and shelter.
Many of these families have already suffered through conflict, disaster, and chronic poverty and the effects of the earthquake will now leave thousands-if not millions-of families completely and utterly destitute.
Whilst families struggle to come to terms with the loss of their loved ones and their homes, hospitals also struggle to cope with the enormous influx of casualties and urgently require resources.
As the disaster unfolded, The Zahra Trust’s local field team mobilized to provide immediate support following a rapid needs assessment.
Our local team is on the ground working tirelessly to ensure families receive urgent aid and assistance. So far, we have provided:
- Food items for hundreds of displaced families
- Blankets for families left in the cold
- Medicines and medical equipment
- Medicine storage units for hospitals.
We need your support to provide relief to the victims of this earthquake.