This week’s 7.8 magnitude earthquake and the following aftershocks in Anatolia have devastated vast swaths of southeastern Türkiye and Syria, with a death toll that has climbed to around 20,000 and setting back years of humanitarian efforts in the region. Below are several organizations that Indagare trusts to actively and responsibly provide critical aid to civilians on the ground.
How to Help Earthquake Victims: Six Organizations We Trust
Care International
Care International works through its confederation of partner organizations to end poverty. Its Türkiye Syria Earthquakes Fund is working to provide up to four million civilians with emergency food and water supplies, health services (including mental health support), cash assistance and shelter. care.org
International Rescue Committee
The IRC’s mission is “to help people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster, including the climate crisis, to survive, recover and gain control over their future.” It has a staff of 1,000 in Syria already, and is currently providing life-saving health care services as well as early recovery support (including basic items like toothbrushes, feminine products and blankets) to impacted civilians in both Syria and Türkiye. rescue.org
Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders)
Since 1971, MSF has provided life-saving medical treatment to those in need, responding to humanitarian crises around the world. It already has a large presence in Syria to support the country’s overwhelmed healthcare system after years of war, and one of its staff members was killed in the earthquake (other staffers family members as well). Now, the organization is doubling down on efforts to provide immediate medical care. msf.org
Team Rubicon
Founded by U.S. veterans who wanted to continue their service, Team Rubicon helps deploy emergency response teams comprising military veterans and first responders to provide critical aid after natural disasters and humanitarian crises. Their needs assessment team is on the ground in Türkiye to coordinate with local and global organizations on how to best assist. teamrubiconusa.org
Turkish Red Crescent
Türkiye’s branch of the International Red Cross has mobilized its entire operations to respond to the crisis. This includes hundreds of staffers and 80 catering vehicles and mobile kitchen trucks to deliver food and water, along with blankets, tents and bedding. kizilay.org
UNICEF
This U.N. organization advocates “for the protection of children’s rights” around the world. It is focusing its relief efforts on initial search and rescue missions, providing initial recovery services, and ensuring impacted children and families have access to basic needs such as drinking water, sanitary products and winter clothes. unicef.org
