Ankara/Damascus, 21 February 2023 (TDI): Islamic Relief, a humanitarian aid organization, has delivered relief items and assistance to the earthquake survivors of Turkiye and Syria.

The information was shared by the Organization’s Head of Mission in Turkiye and Syria, Ahmed Mahmoud. He said that their teams are working tirelessly to provide emergency support as the new wave of earthquakes struck the countries.

Emergency support & global appeal

Islamic Relief is providing emergency support in the form of food, shelter, and medical supplies. The team is involved in clearing the roads and rubble to ensure safer passages, improving water supplies, and supporting dedicated outreach teams for women and children.

Islamic Relief has raised £9 million towards a £20 million global appeal, and the team has assisted over 439,000 people.

According to data, more than 40 million people are affected by the earthquake, more than 41,000 people are confirmed dead, and thousands are wounded. The infrastructure is destroyed. People are vulnerable to hypothermia due to harsh winters.

The shelters for homeless people are heavily crowded in Syria, and there are growing speculations of outbreaks of water-borne diseases such as cholera and typhoid, as water supplies have been damaged or contaminated.

The war-trodden population in Syria faced tragic issues such as displaced millions of people, destruction of infrastructure, and forced poverty, and now this natural disaster made the situation even worse. 

Humanitarian aid by Islamic Relief

Islamic relief is providing timely responses in earthquake-stricken areas. In Turkiye, the organization distributed food, water, and blankets to survivors. 

The economic activity is regenerating in the areas so Islamic Relief provided vouchers to people for buying commodities. 

Medical supplies were provided in hospitals and clinics in Syria, where there occurred overwhelming numbers of causalities and injured masses.

Islamic Relief also provided mattresses, blankets, tents, and plastic sheets to reception centers hosting homeless people. It is now supporting 17 reception centers with other vital supplies to feed survivors and keep them warm.

Also read: Islamic Relief assists people affected by flash floods in Pakistan

Mohammed Hamza, Head of Islamic Relief’s office in Idlib, northwest Syria, said, “As we work, we can hear the screams of children trapped under the rubble. Our staff is exhausted, many have lost their relatives, yet are working around the clock to deliver aid.”

“The teams have been up throughout last night putting up tents and setting up reception centers for homeless families. We delivered beds and mattresses to several hospitals so that they have space to treat more of the casualties.” Hamza continued.

While describing the severity of destruction, he said, “The hospitals are overwhelmed and running out of supplies. They’re even running out of body bags for the dead, a tragic reflection of how devastating these earthquakes have been.”

It is pertinent to note that the survivors in earthquake areas need essential commodities, health care facilities, and schools. A proper assessment plan would be needed in the upcoming days to help them rebuild their lives again.

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