The Latest on Turkey-Syria Earthquake
For those unaware, a horrific pair of high-magnitude earthquakes struck Syria and Turkey on Monday, leaving thousands killed and several more injured. Currently, the death toll between both countries has risen to 21,000 people, and aid efforts are being made in recovering survivors underneath the wreckage. Thousands of collapsed buildings have trapped citizens, with rescue efforts burying the dead and recovering those alive. Now, as millions across the globe mourn those that are lost, the World Health Organization states that a secondary disaster could hit the survivors.
At the brink of Winter, those who have been left homeless now struggle with freezing temperatures and snow that poses threats to their health. Search and rescue teams have had difficulty with these snowstorms, with poor logistics and slow response times affecting the efficiency of these operations. In Syria, a 12-year civil war has made aid difficult to reach certain areas, with varying powers controlling different domains of the state. However, large efforts are continuing to be made, with both of the afflicted countries reaching out to those across the globe for funding and donations.
For those who wish to help, we recommend getting in contact with the Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations, as well as the Syrian American Medical Society to fund several of these aid groups in these targeted areas. Some sites where you can also make donations include ahbap, one of the most active voluntary networks, active in the affected regions in Turkey and AFAD, Turkeyโs official Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency.
In large cities in the U.S., Turkish consulates are currently accepting donations in the form of winter clothes and supplies, in an attempt to clothe and occupy the growing homeless populations. In dire situations like these, anything can help.
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I am not a financial advisor and my comments should never be taken as financial advice. Investments come with risk, so always do your research and analysis beforehand.