By: Rachel Lau 

Photo by IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation, CC 2.0 on Flickr

On the morning of February 6th, southern Turkey was hit with a massive earthquake of 7.8 magnitude, and Syria was hit with over a hundred aftershocks, the highest being 7.5 magnitude. With freezing temperatures and inadequate shelter, food, and other necessities, many are in need of humanitarian assistance; however, most are not receiving the help they need. This earthquake is among the 20 deadliest over the last century. Currently, the death toll is rising to 28,000 and counting (International Rescue Committee). 

What is an Earthquake?

Earthquakes occur when two blocks of the earth have a sudden movement on the fault plane. The tectonic plates move, push, slide, drift, and divert away from one another, hence the earthquake. Geographically, Turkey is positioned on the Eurasian plate, Anatolian plate, and African plate, thus the country frequently experiences earthquakes on the borders of the plates (Ledur, Júlia, et al.). 

How You Can Help

The most practical way to support Turkey and Syria right now is to donate money and/or supplies to credible humanitarian organizations. For example, the Red Cross (IFRC), UNICEF, and Doctors Without Borders are some of the many organizations that can relieve the crisis. Otherwise, continue to gain attention from the government and politicians, such as signing petitions online and spreading awareness online. Every action is critical and life-saving. These actions are impactful to many during devastating times, and you can contribute to a better cause (Gilmore).

Works Cited

Gilmore, Rachel. “Want to help the earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria? Here’s how – National | Globalnews.ca.” Global News, 7 February 2023, https://globalnews.ca/news/9466809/turkey-earthquake-how-to-help/. Accessed 11 February 2023.

International Rescue Committee. “How to help after the Syria-Turkey earthquake.” International Rescue Committee, 8 February 2023, https://www.rescue.org/article/how-help-after-syria-turkey-earthquake. Accessed 11 February 2023.

Ledur, Júlia, et al. “How the earthquake in Turkey and Syria compares with other deadly tremors.” The Washington Post, 10 February 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/02/10/turkey-syria-earthquake-history/. Accessed 11 February 2023.