A powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit southeast Turkey and Syria early Monday, toppling hundreds of buildings and killing and injuring tens of thousands of people.
A frantic race is underway to find more survivors and help the wounded as the death toll mounts. The toll is likely to climb further as freezing weather and multiple aftershocks, including a 7.5 magnitude quake, have hampered the rescue efforts.
Many governments and aid groups have rushed to dispatch personnel, funds and equipment to help the rescue efforts in quake-stricken areas.
Here are some organizations involved in relief efforts in Syria and Turkey that you can help:
BEFORE YOU GIVE:
It's always important to verify smaller organizations or those you are unfamiliar with before considering a donation. You check a charity's legitimacy on Charity Navigator, which provides analysis of charities' finances and rates their transparency. The Better Business Bureau's Give.org also evaluates charities based on reviews, complaints, transparency and finances.
RED CROSS
The Red Cross in Turkey and Syria, called the Red Crescent, deployed teams in both countries and are providing hot meals and drinks, collecting and shipping blood to the impacted areas as well as providing psychological support to victims. Additionally the Red Crescent in Turkey is deploying tents and blankets to support the injured and evacuated and in Syria the organization is supporting search and rescue operations, providing first aid, performing emergency medical evacuations and transporting injured people to the hospitals. To donate specifically to the recent international earthquakes, the Red Cross asks donors to write “Turkiye (Turkey) earthquake” in the memo line of a check and mail it with a completed donation form to the Red Cross address on the form or to their local Red Cross chapter.
TURKISH EMBASSY AND CONSULATES
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The Turkish Embassy in Washington, D.C., and Turkish Consulates around the country are accepting in-kind assistance. Those interested are asked to send donations of blankets, tents, sleeping bags, pocket warmers, winter clothing and over-the-counter medications for flu, cold, and pain killers to Turkish Embassy and Turkish Consulates across the U.S. by mail or through in-person drop off.
SAVE THE CHILDREN
Save the Children, the international youth humanitarian group, is also working to support children in both Turkey and Syria. Click here to donate.
DIRECT RELIEF
Direct Relief is a humanitarian aid group that provides health services to people affected by poverty or emergencies. The organization is providing medical supplies from its facilities in the US and Europe for Turkey and Syria. Donate here.
AMERICARES
Americares trains local health workers to help people cope with the trauma of natural disasters and provides medical assistance to health facilities throughout the country. To donate to Americares click here.
Powerful Quakes Strike Turkey and Syria, in Photos
DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières is working with its local partners in northwestern Syria, including by supporting hospitals with staff and supplies, and donating emergency medical kits and blankets. Click here to donate.
ISLAMIC RELIEF
Islamic Relief is on the ground in Turkey providing emergency medical assistance, shelter and cash grants to survivors. In Syria, the organization is working to provide health and medical supplies to hospitals and clinics, as well as blankets and tents for those who were made homeless by the Earthquake. Click here to donate.
CARE
CARE's on-the-ground teams are in Turkey and Syria delivering blankets, food, mattresses, tents, and other essentials to the survivors of the earthquake. For more on CARES and to donate to the international aid group, click here.
World Food Program
The United Nations World Food Programme has operated in Turkey and Syria for year and said it will continue to provide food assistance to the vulnerable during the disaster recovery. Click here to help.
Project Hope
Project HOPE, a U.S.-based international humanitarian aid nonprofit, said it deployed emergency response teams to Turkey and Syria to help in search and rescue efforts, shipment, and coordinating distribution of emergency health kits, supplies and medicine. To donate to their disaster relief fund, click here.
