A 7.8 magnitude earthquake has hit Southern Turkey and Northern Syria

On February 6 2023, a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southern Turkiye and northern Syria. The earthquake hit at 4:17 am, followed by aftershocks as large as 6.4 and 6.5 magnitudes respectively only minutes later. 10 provinces in the region have been affected including Kayseri, Malatya, Adana Diyarbakır, Gaziantep & Hatay.

According to latest reports, at least 5,000 people have been confirmed dead across both Turkey and Syria, with the deathtoll expected to rise. Gaziantep has the highest death toll among Turkish cities so far. At least 22,000 people have been injured across the affected provinces in Turkey, with many more trapped in the rubble following the collapse of hundreds of buildings.

Islamic Relief teams are on the ground right now responding to the disaster in both Turkiye and Syria. We are providing medical supplies to local hospitals, supporting their capacity to treat those who are injured. We continue to assess the situation as it evolves, making preparations to provide emergency food and shelter support to those affected. Help save precious lives and donate now to our Turkiye Syria Earthquake Appeal.

Our response

• Search and rescue; thousands are trapped under rubble and our teams are supporting ground efforts to try and retrieve bodies

• Emergency food aid; many markets are closed and people have lost everything so access to food is scarce

• Winter kits; most of the cities are dealing with heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures so blankets are being distributed

• Shelter; tents are being distributed as many have lost their homes or feel unsafe seeking refuge inside buildings at the moment and are outside in freezing temperatures