How to support relief efforts in Turkey

We are devastated by the unfolding news from the earthquake that struck much of southern Turkey and northern Syria and has taken the lives of more than 30,000 people. We reached out to our chapter hosts in the region to see how we can help. All of our volunteer organizers in Istanbul, Antalya, Izmir, and Bodrum are safe and accounted for, and many of them are participating in relief efforts for the affected parts of the country. Our volunteer hosts Ilgın of Antalya, Emre of Istanbul, and Nazey of Izmir shared a list of organizations you can contribute to, as well as information you can share.

Our members, friends, and partners who are providing rescue and humanitarian aid in affected areas inform us that their urgent need is effective logistics management and coordination of aid efforts from qualified organizations. Currently, we are compiling a list of organizations that we have confidence in for their expertise, transparency in their financial operations, and commitment to coordinating effective relief efforts.” — Nazey Erdilek, Host of CreativeMornings/Izmir

Donate:

• AFAD is Turkey’s official disaster and emergency management authority. They have published international Earthquake Donation Accounts.
• AKUT Search and Rescue Association is a Turkish NGO leading efforts to search, assist, and rescue people from the debris.
• Ahbap is one of the most reliable and active local NGOs on the ground with 30,000 volunteers coordinating with the other organizations.
• İhtiyaç Haritası is a social cooperative that brings people in need together with individuals, institutions and organizations that want to support. They’re currently working with other NGOs through Afet Platformu to assess needs and make a list. If you would like to send materials and coordinate on the ground, you can coordinate it through them.
• EBRD supports İhtiyaç Haritası with a crowdfunding campaign on Crowdfunder.
• Turkey Mozaik Foundation collects funds and shares with the Sivil Toplum İçin Destek Vakfı through their fundraising campaign to finance NGOs on the ground.
• Support to Life is an independent humanitarian organization; they are also an active partner of IH Ankara in cooperative support. Their mission is to help disadvantaged communities that are affected by disasters.
• Turkish Philanthropy Funds is a foundation serving the Turkish-American community. When disaster struck, TPF delivers funds to its partners on the ground to provide relief and long-term recovery. Donate to their Turkey earthquake relief fund.

Share:

• You can share Instagram posts from Fayn Studio and Wiser Media to help spread reputable information about donating to relief efforts.

We know the earthquake has heavily impacted Syria as well. Although we have no CreativeMornings chapters or volunteers on the ground in Syria, we encourage you to donate to the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to fund life-saving activities in Syria via the Syria Humanitarian Fund and the Cross-Border Humanitarian Fund.