Türkiye & Syria Earthquake - ShelterBox Emergency

$1,125 donated

Given by 9 generous donors in 8 weeks

The need for emergency shelter is enormous.

A series of devastating earthquakes has struck southern Türkiye (formerly Turkey) and northern Syria. Millions of people have been affected and the need for emergency shelter is huge.

Thousands of buildings have been destroyed in both countries leaving people homeless, with nowhere to sleep, in the middle of a bitter winter.

ShelterBox is launching an emergency appeal to help people survive this terrible disaster, and others like it.

ShelterBox is sending an emergency response team to understand which communities are most in need and how we can help. Items like tents and shelter kits, stoves, thermal blankets and clothing could keep people warm through the freezing winter nights. Cash could help people buy what they need to survive. Or solar lights could help people when there is no electricity.

ShelterBox has experience responding to earthquakes in Türkiye before, most notably the 2011 Van earthquake. We also have an ongoing programme of work supporting people displaced by conflict in Syria, including the region affected by the earthquakes. Please donate today to help us provide life-saving aid for people affected by the earthquakes and other disasters around the world.

About us

ShelterBox New Zealand is an international disaster relief charity that provides emergency shelter and essential aid to families who have lost everything due to disaster or conflict.

Use of funds

Funds will go towards items like tents and shelter kits, stoves, thermal blankets, solar lights and clothing could keep people warm through the freezing winter nights.

Latest update

We're scaling up our response in Türkiye and Syria 7 March 2023

We have good news to report. We’ve developed relationships across both Türkiye and Syria with multiple in-country partners, and we’re deploying additional ShelterBox Response Team members to affected areas. Our goal is get more aid more quickly to the people who are in desperate need. Check out the video below from our Response Team member onsite.

In addition to our first stock of tents imported into Türkiye soon after the earthquakes, more tents and other essential items like blankets, mattresses, stoves, and lighting are almost ready for distribution. Many of these will be purchased from our supplier and manufacturer in Türkiye who has been providing equipment for our 10-year response to the war in Syria. Purchasing locally helps restore the local economy and means that our donors’ dollars go further.

We’re working with our Rotary partners to prepare for distribution of these items. Together, we’ve visited potential distribution sites and continue to work closely with local communities and officials to ensure that preparations are in place, such as the required key services to go alongside the shelter provision.

This is a hugely complex humanitarian response spanning two countries. Getting aid into Türkiye and Syria is complicated and time-consuming. But we’re used to working in challenging environments and are dedicated to serving the people who are most in need. Our vision is no one without shelter after disaster.

Thank you again for your generous support.

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