Disasters Emergency Committee Appeal launched for Turkey Syria Earthquake Response

An appeal has been launched by DEC Cymru and the UK’s Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) to help hundreds of thousands of people affected by earthquakes that hit Turkey and Syria.

UK aid agencies – including the British Red Cross, Oxfam and Islamic Relief – are joining together to raise money, and the UK Government will match donations from the public pound-for-pound up to £5 million, meaning your support will go even further. Funds will go towards medical aid, emergency shelter, food and clean water after the quakes injured thousands. The appeal will be broadcast on TV on Thursday evening.

The Welsh Centre for International Affairs (WCIA) are a leading partner in DEC Cymru, uniting charities in Wales to fundraise in times of crisis, and supporting Welsh international NGOs, diaspora and community groups to respond effectively to humanitarian needs.

More than 17,000 people have died, with that number expected to rise.

A series of devastating earthquakes hit southern Turkey (now known as Türkiye) and north-west Syria killing over 17,000 people and injuring many more in the early hours of Monday morning, 6th February. The first deadly earthquake struck while people were inside their homes, asleep in their beds, with no warning signs. Thousands of buildings, including hospitals and schools, have collapsed and infrastructure has been badly damaged. Local responders are desperately searching through the rubble for survivors. People have been left without shelter in freezing winter conditions and desperately need blankets, emergency shelter, food and clean water. 

DEC charities and their local partners are among the first responders providing urgent help. Immediate priorities are search and rescue, medical treatment for the injured, shelter for those who have lost their homes, heating in safe spaces, blankets, warm clothes, and ensuring people have food and clean water. 

How you can help

You can help people affected by the crisis by making a donation and helping to raise money for the DEC appeal. This will allow DEC charities and their local partners to scale up their response and reach more people.

  • £10 could provide blankets to keep two people warm
  • £25 could provide emergency food for a family for ten days 
  • £50 could provide emergency shelter for two families