PFC News Canadian philanthropy helping those affected by the earthquake in Türkiye and Syria Jean-Marc Mangin Feb 20, 2023 4 mins read News & Insights PFC News Canadian philanthropy helping those affected by the earthquake in Türkiye and Syria February 20, 2023 From Jean-Marc Mangin, President & CEO of Philanthropic Foundations Canada Humanitarian aid is desperately needed in Türkiye* and Syria after the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit south-eastern Türkiye near the border with Syria earlier this month. More than 45,000 people are dead and thousands more are injured, with the death toll still expected to rise. We all have a responsibility as Canadians within the international community to do whatever we can to help those in need, especially in these extraordinary cases. I know all PFC members and others across our network are all watching the news with grave concern and sadness as the numbers of dead and injured continue to mount. The earthquake has affected some 23 million people, and the need for humanitarian assistance is urgent, or more lives will be lost. It is a disaster within a disaster in Syria, where 6 million people were already in need of humanitarian assistance because of the ongoing conflict. People were already displaced, buildings already damaged, and poverty and hunger on the rise before the earthquake. We have been in touch with Humanitarian Coalition and the Canadian Red Cross. The Humanitarian Coalition brings together 12 leading aid organizations[i] in times of disaster to provide Canadians with a simple and effective way to help during international humanitarian disasters. Member agencies join forces to raise funds, mobilize media, businesses and individual Canadians, and ultimately work together to save more lives. With a combined presence in 140 countries, they are well placed to respond quickly to both large-scale disasters and smaller, under-reported crises. Their members also represent a range of geographic presence and aid expertise, so that they can offer assistance ranging from child protection to medical care to trucking water and providing food, ensuring that all necessary emergency relief is delivered effectively in a timely manner. As of the morning of February 20, they have raised $10.6 million for the response to the earthquake. As of February 12, Canadians (individuals, corporations, foundations, and community groups) had contributed over $12 million to the fund set up by the Canadian Red Cross . The Canadian Red Cross has a long-standing relationship with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and has been providing support since 2013. They also have multi-year humanitarian collaborations with Turkish Red Crescent. The Canadian Red Cross is contributing funds to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) for Türkiye and Syria. They also have had a Canadian Red Cross representative on the ground in Syria, with two additional humanitarian experts as part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement response. They remain in close contact with Red Cross Red Crescent Movement partners and have numerous response tools ready to be deployed, including relief items, personnel and a field hospital. Teams from the Turkish Red Crescent and Syrian Arab Red Crescent have been on the ground providing vital humanitarian aid to those impacted since the earthquake first struck. The Turkish Red Crescent has mobilized over 10,500 personnel to respond to the crisis across ten affected provinces. The Syrian Arab Red Crescent is working to target people impacted by the earthquake in Aleppo, Latakia, Hama and Tartous governorates, and has mobilized 3,500 personnel to respond. Teams are providing vital on-the-ground support, including search and rescue operations, first aid, emergency medical evacuations, and transporting injured people to hospitals with 30 ambulances. In addition, Syrian Arab Red Crescent teams are distributing blankets, mattresses, food, and other essential items. It should also be noted that some Turkish and Syrian staff members of these organizations have also been severely impacted. Some were killed in the earthquake, and the others are all dealing with personal loss, as well as infrastructure damage, cold weather, telecommunications challenges and more. As the relief efforts shift into assistance and recovery, resources remain limited, especially in Syria after more than a decade of war. PFC remains a trusted conduit for information for members and the broader sector. I encourage our members to get in touch with me or directly with the Humanitarian Coalition or the Canadian Red Cross with any questions. Jean-Marc * Note: The Republic of Türkiye changed its official name in all languages from The Republic of Turkey to Türkiye (the Turkish spelling) on 26 May 2022. [i] Action Against Hunger, Canadian Foodgrains Bank, Canadian Lutheran World Relief, CARE Canada, Doctors of the World, Humanity & Inclusion, Islamic Relief Canada, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam-Québec, Plan International Canada, Save the Children Canada, and World Vision Canada. Share This Article Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email