How to donate to the Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal

A series of devastating earthquakes have hit southern Turkey and north-west Syria killing over 20,000 people and injuring many more.

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

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.

The DEC brings together 15 leading UK aid charities at times of crisis overseas to raise funds quickly and efficiently. 

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 

How to donate:      

Online: dec.org.uk    

Phone: 0370 60 60 610   

Text to give/SMS: text SUPPORT to 70787 to donate £10. Other partners should use the specific text codes they have been provided with by the DEC.   

Donate over the counter at any high street bank or post office, or send a cheque by post to: DEC Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal, PO Box 999, London EC3A 3AA.   

Local events:

Wirral’s Syrian community, with support from Heart4refugees CIC, are hosting a fundraising event to raise vital funds following last week’s devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria.

The event is open to members of the public, and will take place this Wednesday 15th February 1-4pm at Grange Baptist Church, Birkenhead, CH41 2QS – please see the attached flyer for further details.

Funds raised will go directly to The White Helmets, a team of over 3,000 volunteer responders who have provided emergency relief since 2014 in Syria, and are now providing vital search and rescue efforts.