Devastating earthquakes have killed thousands of people in Turkey and Syria. Hundreds of buildings have been destroyed leaving survivors facing freezing conditions. People need help now.

On 6th February 2023, an earthquake with magnitude of 7.8 struck south-east Turkey and north-west Syria.

A second earthquake, further north of the original epicentre, struck a few hours later, and recorded magnitude of 7.5.

Turkey has declared a state of emergency, and both countries have appealed for urgent international assistance.

Estimates state that 17 million people are exposed in total.

Syria is already in crisis after 13 years of war, an ongoing cholera outbreak and harsh winter conditions.

The first deadly earthquake struck while people were inside their homes, asleep in their beds. With no major earthquakes in this region for 200 years, and no warning signs, communities were unprepared. Thousands have been killed, many more are injured and there are people trapped beneath the rubble of collapsed buildings. With so many buildings destroyed or unsafe, survivors have been left out in the freezing cold.

DEC charities and their local partners are among the first responders, working with locally-led relief efforts in Turkey (now known as Türkiye) and Syria. Immediate priorities are search and rescue, medical treatment for the injured, shelter for those who have lost their homes, heaters for spaces and winter kits with blankets, and warm clothes, and ensuring people have food and clean water.

£10,000 will be matched pound for pound by Quilter.

- £10 could provide blankets for 2 people to keep them warm

- £25 could provide emergency food for a family for 10 days

- £100 could provide emergency shelters for 4 families