Delaware, national resources for aiding victims of Monday's earthquake in Turkey and Syria

Krys'tal Griffin, Delaware News Journal
·2 min read

Rescue efforts continue after an earthquake hit the Turkish-Syrian border earlier this week, leaving many struggling to locate loved ones and in need of emergency resources and assistance.

A 7.8 magnitude earthquake and a series of violent aftershocks hit the area at 4:17 a.m. local time, followed by another 7.5 magnitude earthquake 60 miles away hours later, officials said.

Thousands of people were left dead on Monday, and the number is expected to rise as search and rescue efforts continue. By Wednesday morning, it was reported by the Associated Press that the death toll had surpassed 11,000. Many more victims of the earthquakes and aftershocks are injured and without shelter amidst brutal winter weather.

Earthquake donation, relief resources: How to donate to Turkey and Syria earthquake relief and recovery efforts

Organizations on the ground in Turkey and Syria have expressed a need for donated items such as tents and heaters, blankets, thermal clothes, ready-to-eat-meals and first aid kits for victims.

Although Delaware is more than 5,000 miles away from the Turkish-Syrian border, local organizations have quickly stepped up to help those in need.

The Turkish American Student Association at the University of Delaware is organizing a drive for donations of needed items to help victims of the earthquake.

These items include:

  • Children’s clothing

  • Adult clothing

  • Blankets

  • Hygenic products

  • Winter gear, including shoes, coats, gloves, pocket warmers, etc.

  • Over-the-counter medications for the flu, common colds and painkillers

  • Flashlights, or other light sources, with batteries

  • Canned or packaged foods

  • New undergarments

Items can be donated in used condition unless stated otherwise.

Donations will be accepted until 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, in room 015H of the Perkins Student Center located at 325 Academy St., Newark.

For those who are interested in volunteering, anyone is able to join TASA in Perkins from noon to 7 p.m. each day until donations close to help with packing. Volunteers also are needed to deliver donation boxes to Turkish Consulates.

To get involved, contact Yasemin Akcan, president of UD’s TASA chapter, at yakcan@udel.edu or call (979) 422-5012. Other contacts include Kaan Karatas at karatas@udel.edu and Ali Cicek at alicicek@udel.edu.

A soldier stands next to a collapsed building in Kahramanmaras, southern Turkey, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. Nearly two days after the magnitude 7.8 quake struck southeastern Turkey and northern Syria, thinly stretched rescue teams work to pull more people from the rubble of thousands of buildings.
A soldier stands next to a collapsed building in Kahramanmaras, southern Turkey, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. Nearly two days after the magnitude 7.8 quake struck southeastern Turkey and northern Syria, thinly stretched rescue teams work to pull more people from the rubble of thousands of buildings.

Monetary donations to aid relief efforts in Turkey and Syria can be made through several verified campaigns, including Ahbap, a nonprofit organization assisting on the ground overseas, and AKUT Search and Rescue Association.

If you are a local organization offering volunteer opportunities or other resources to help the victims of the earthquake along the Turkish-Syrian border, contact Krys’tal Griffin at kgriffin@delawareonline.com to be included in this story.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Want to help earthquake victims in Turkey? Here's how in Delaware