People across the Globe Send Aid to Turkey’s Earthquake Victims

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ollowing the 7.8 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes that that partially devastated 10 cities in Southern Turkey on February 6, 2023, many people rushed to mobilize resources and volunteers to help victims.

Calls for donations and volunteers to travel to the affected areas were made on social media in countries such as Pakistan, Kuwait, and Malaysia, adding to the efforts by official bodies in both Turkey and abroad. People across the globe are involved in sending humanitarian aid to Turkey to express solidarity with those affected by the earthquake and alleviate their suffering.

Popular global support

In Qatar, the campaign to collect aid for the victims of the earthquake in Turkey kicked off on Wednesday, February 8, 2023. The campaign has received a lot of support from Qataris, who provided their in-kind assistance to the Turkish School and the Yunus Emre Cultural Institute in Doha, in preparation for sending it to the affected areas. Aljazeera Network, based in Doha, has provided a full-time coverage of the earthquake, sending corresponds to different parts of Turkey.

In Kazakhstan, the Turkish ambassador to Astana, Ufuk Ekici, praised the public support to help those affected by the earthquake. The campaign raised more than $90,000 in donations in a single day. Both Turkey and Kazakhstan are members of the Organization of Turkic States and the two countries have strong ties.

In Saudi Arabia, a popular campaign was launched to help those impacted by the earthquake. On the first day of the campaign, $4.5 million was raised to help the victims of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria. Saudi religious scholars have made calls urging people to donate to the campaign. The Saudi-Turkish ties have seen improvement recently, which perhaps is partly responsible for the Saudi efforts to help the victims of the earthquake.

In Oman, the Grand Mufti of the Sultanate Ahmad Al-Khalili tweeted, “We express solidarity from the bottom of our hearts with the brotherly Syrian and Turkish brothers, following the earthquake which caused much damage and took away many beloved ones.”

In a tweet, Omani journalist Hammoud Altouqi asked “[i]f there is anyone who has not donated yet.” Oman has maintained a neutral role in the region and has enjoyed good relations with Turkey over the years.

In Kuwait, the Ministry of Social Affairs launched a campaign to raise funds for the victims of the earthquake. Nasser Bin Alidan, a Kuwaiti journalist, stated, “We need to rush to raise funds to save what could be saved following the earthquake in Turkey and Syria.” The official Kuwaiti TV channels have called on Kuwaitis to donate to the campaign through NGOs. Dar Al-Sharq, which owns four major newspapers in the country, donated its royalties of one week to the victims of the earthquake.

Bahrain, the UAE, and Palestine

In Bahrain, the Royal Humanitarian Foundation called on people to donate to the national campaign to support those affected by the earthquake. The foundation urged all institutions, private sector companies, and individuals to contribute to the campaign. In response to the appeal of the Turkish Embassy in Manama, Bahrainis delivered in-kind aid for the victims of the earthquake.

The UAE Red Crescent called for joining the “Bridges of Good” campaign to support those affected in Syria and Turkey. The collection of cash and in-kind donations will continue for two weeks. Al Ansari Exchange announced the donation of $1 million to help those impacted by the earthquake.

The popular campaigns to support the victims of the earthquake in Turkey have reached different parts of the world including war-torn countries such as Palestine.

The Palestinian Ministry of Religious Affairs launched the “Help Them” campaign to provide urgent aid to the earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria. The Palestinian Minister of Religious Affairs Hatem al-Bakri stated that the campaign came under the directives of the President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas. Al-Bakri pointed out that his ministry will provide $100,000 to the campaign for the victims of the earthquake and formed a committee to arrange the arrival of donations through the Palestinian embassies in Turkey and Syria. Dozens of Palestinians have lost their lives in the earthquake in both Turkey and Syria, according to Palestinian sources.

In the Gaza Strip, dozens of orphaned children showed solidarity with those affected by the earthquake. On the sidelines of the event, children raised Turkish flags and banners which read in Arabic and Turkish, “Our people in Turkey and Syria, our condolences and prayers for you.” A number of children drew the Turkish flag on a large white canvas alongside phrases such as “Our hearts are with you.”

South and Southeast Asia

In Malaysia, $2 million was raised to help the victims of the earthquake. Kuala Lumpur also sent a 70-member team to help with rescue efforts. Malaysians have expressed their solidarity and support for Turkey, and local social media are full of calls to donate to help the victims.

Pakistan’s civil servants have donated a day of their monthly salary and ministers donated a whole month’s wage to help the earthquake victims.

Popular global efforts join Turkey’s domestic efforts

Thousands of young Turkish people headed to Istanbul Airport volunteering to participate in search and rescue missions, after they received calls from government institutions, which confirmed that they would be transported by planes to the affected areas in southern Turkey.

The Governorship of Istanbul announced it sent 122 planes, including 22 cargo planes, and two ships to the affected areas, in addition to 20,515 personnel and volunteers to the Emergency and Disaster Management (AFAD).

Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya stated that 103 ambulances, medical rescue vehicles, 964 heavy machines, 22 search and rescue vehicles, 964 aid trucks, and 4,765 tents were sent to the earthquake-stricken areas, especially to Hatay Province.

Videos have been shared on social media showing thousands of people from different parts of Istanbul such as Üsküdar and Şişli lining up to help with aid efforts and sending much needed blankets and food to the ten cities hit by the earthquake.

The earthquake in Turkey has once again shown how social support networks can play a critical role in helping victims in an efficient and time-sensitive manner thanks to the involvement of individuals and NGOS on the ground, both in Turkey and abroad.