Turkey-Syria: Two weeks on from earthquake, donations to DEC appeal top £90 million as charities warn of risk to vulnerable people

Older people and those with disabilities are particularly at risk in the aftermath of the earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria two weeks ago today, the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) warns today.  
 
Donations to the DEC Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal reached £93 million on Monday, including £5 million matched by the UK Government through the UK Aid Match scheme. 
 
It’s now known that the earthquake killed at least 44,000 people, with the figure expected to rise. In Turkey (now known as Türkiye) alone, more than 100,000 people were injured and over 47,000 buildings were destroyed or damaged, according to the UN. In Syria people displaced by the war who were already living in tents have hosted people whose homes have been destroyed. 
 
Older people and those with disabilities and health conditions are particularly vulnerable following the earthquake as it exacerbates the everyday challenges such as mobility issues, living on their own, social isolation and having specific medical and nutritional needs. The cold winter weather both countries are currently experiencing is also expected to hit older people and those with disabilities hard and worsen pre-existing medical conditions. 
 
Adnan, 65, who suffers from a number of chronic health conditions, lived in a building with his 10 children and five grandchildren. Thankfully they all managed to escape when the earthquake struck, but minutes later they watched the building collapse as aftershocks followed. 
 
Adnan said: “We were out on the streets until the next morning, with no clothes or shoes to protect us from the rainstorm. I was in pain and this increased as the storms got worse. 
 
“Looking at the destroyed buildings, and hearing the cries of victims and the wounded, I didn’t know whether we would die of cold or because of the earthquake.”  
 
Despite his health worsening due to the conditions, Adnan tried to help search and rescue teams by pointing out where families had lived. 
 
Two days after the earthquake, the Syrian Expatriate Medical Association (SEMA), a local partner of DEC charity Age International, provided tents to give Adnan and his family emergency shelter, but many more people are still in need of support. 

Images of Adnan are available here.
 
DEC member Age International is working with its partners in Turkey and Syria to help older people like Adnan and their families. Examples of their emergency relief includes: 

• Providing shelter to older people and their families who have lost their homes 
• Providing food and water 
• Medical support, including medications and experts in geriatric care  
• Providing blankets, heating, and warm clothing 
• Cash payments so that older people can buy the things they need  
• Safeguarding older people, including mental health support 

Alison Marshall, CEO at Age International, said: 
 
“This earthquake has made so many older people and people with disabilities homeless, and it is particularly difficult for them to survive the harsh conditions due to mobility challenges, health conditions and their need for medication. Imagining the older people in my life having to face such awful circumstances makes me all the more grateful for the work of our partners on the ground and the generosity of the British public who have donated to the appeal. 
 
“Because of this generosity our partner organisations in Turkey and Syria have been able to provide life-saving support, like shelter and blankets, food and water, and medical care to older people and their families.  This is helping with immediate needs and the donations mean we will also be able to help older people rebuild their lives over the longer term.”

ENDS 

Notes to editors: 

Media enquiries please call 020 7387 0200 or 07734 653616 (out of hours).    

Images of Adnan are available here. 
  
A collection of images and video footage of the aftermath of the earthquake and DEC charities responding is available here.     

About the DEC: The DEC brings together 15 leading UK aid charities at times of crisis overseas to raise funds quickly and efficiently. In these times of crisis, people in life-and-death situations need our help and our mission is to save, protect and rebuild lives through effective humanitarian response. The DEC’s 15 member charities are: Action Against Hunger, ActionAid UK, Age International, British Red Cross, CAFOD, CARE International UK, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide UK, International Rescue Committee UK, Islamic Relief Worldwide, Oxfam GB, Plan International UK, Save the Children UK, Tearfund and World Vision UK.        
  
Fourteen of the DEC’s 15 members are either responding or planning to respond in Turkey and Syria and will receive funds from this appeal. Some may work through trusted local partners. They are Action Against Hunger, ActionAid UK, Age International, British Red Cross, CAFOD, CARE International UK, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide UK, International Rescue Committee UK, Islamic Relief Worldwide, Oxfam GB, Save the Children UK, Tearfund and World Vision UK.       
  
Through UK Aid Match the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) gives the British public the opportunity to have a say in how the UK aid budget is spent whilst boosting the impact of the very best British charities to change and save the lives of some of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people.      
  
UK Aid Match has increased the impact of a number of DEC appeals to help those in need around the world, including most recently Pakistan Floods Appeal and Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal, both in 2022.  The UK matched up to £25 million of public donations to DEC’s Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal - the largest commitment ever made to a DEC appeal through UK Aid Match.     
  
Enquiries about UK Aid Match and UK Government support for Turkey/Syria should be directed to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Newsdesk. Please email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk 
  
How to donate:         

Online: dec.org.uk       

Phone: 0370 60 60 610      

Text to give/SMS: for press releases: 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.