Vienna (OTS) – One week after the earthquake in the Syrian-Turkish border region, the situation is catastrophic. Thousands of buildings, including hospitals and schools, have collapsed and all infrastructure is severely damaged. A total of 17 million people in the affected area are in need of humanitarian aid. According to UNHCR estimates, up to 5.3 million people are homeless in Syria alone and spend their nights on the streets when temperatures are below freezing. Basic needs such as food, clean water and shelter are lacking. Currently, it is estimated that more than 80,000 people are injured in need of medical care.
The day after the earthquake, ORF and NEIGHBOR IN NOT started an appeal for donations – at the same time that help from local organizations began. This focuses on the absolute essentials: emergency shelter, water, food, mattresses and blankets.
“I was able to get an idea for myself on location in Aleppo. The humanitarian situation is dramatic. Even before the earthquake catastrophe in Syria, people were suffering from the civil war and many houses were already damaged. Now many are left with nothing, they are homeless. We must make every effort to help these people. With shelter, food and water, blankets, mattresses, clothes, fuel and money. For this, we also depend on the solidarity of the Austrian people to make this help possible”, said Andreas Knapp – Chairman of the Board of NACHBAR IN NOT and General Secretary for External Aid of Caritas Austria.
All eight NEIGHBOR IN NOT aid organizations are working with local partner organizations in Syria and Turkey:
O Caritas Austria help with partner organizations in Syria and Turkey. From the first hours after the earthquake, shelters were organized and people were provided with food, clean water, clothes, mattresses, towels, kitchen utensils and medical supplies. Caritas has been active in Syria for over 30 years, so urgent emergency help can start immediately.
O Austrian Red Cross is in exchange with the Turkish Red Crescent and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent. Both national companies started rescue and search measures immediately after the tremors – thousands of employees and volunteers are at work. Relief efforts include search and rescue, basic medical supplies, evacuations, emergency shelter, psychological first aid, food supplies, and blood and plasma supplies.
CAREFUL is represented locally by CARE Türkiye, existing cross-border relief operations will continue to respond to the worst-hit areas in northwest Syria, where local teams and partners are trying to get blankets, food, mattresses, tents and other relief supplies to people in need deliver and in difficult weather conditions.
O Arbeiter-Samaritan-Bund is involved with members of the Search and Rescue Team in Turkey in the search for buried people and, in cooperation with the local organization ADRA, is providing food and water to earthquake survivors in Syria and Turkey.
O Diaconia Disaster Relief is active through local partner organizations in Syria and Turkey. In Syria, activities to contain cholera were already planned before the earthquake. These measures are still highly relevant. Distribution of hibernation kits (mattresses, blankets, tarpaulins), food aid, distribution of hygiene kits and water started in Hama, Aleppo and Latakia.
O International Aid Organization operates in the province of Hatay, in southern Turkey, and works directly with local authorities. First-aid supplies such as food and water have already been distributed and emergency shelters are being organized.
Maltese International has been working in Syria since 2012 and has been registered in Turkey since 2014. An emergency relief team has been dispatched to the affected region to coordinate immediate relief measures and provide the affected people with urgently needed relief supplies. At local partner hospitals, the number of injured increases by the hour. Malteser provides and supports medical facilities in Syria, distributing water and emergency supplies.
O help of the people works in Syria with the partner organization “Hiro – Center for Dialogue and Rehabilitation” and distributes emergency aid packages in Idlib in displaced people camps. This includes basic groceries for families who have lost their homes, as well as winter clothes and blankets. Emergency aid packages for Sheikh Maqsoud – a district of Aleppo which is under Syrian-Kurdish self-government are being organised.
Michael Opriesnig, Secretary General of the Austrian Red Cross and CEO of NEIGHBOR IN NOT: “Swift help for the millions of people in Turkey and Syria who are homeless as a result of the earthquake and some of whom were seriously injured is now important. Many thanks to all Austrians who support us and help our neighbors in need.”
ORF supports the relief campaign with appeals for donations on television and radio, as well as reports in all state media and studios. All information about the donation options and projects of NACHBAR IN NOT aid organizations on nachbarinnot.ORF.at and on ORF TELETEXT on page 682.
Help and support are urgently needed. Thanks to your donations, NEIGHBOR IN NOT was able to quickly help thousands of people in Turkey and Syria.
Donation options:
Donations to NEIGHBOR IN NOT – earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria
IBAN: AT75 2011 1400 4004 4001
BIC: GIBAATWWXXX
https://nachbarinnot.orf.at/
by text message
Send an SMS with the amount of your donation between €1.00 and €50.00 +43 664 660 44 66
by phone
Call the A1 donation phone at 0800 664 2023 at the
Questions and contact:
NEIGHBOR IN DANGER
Claudia Gasteiger
press secretary
066478786950
[email protected]
https://nachbarinnot.orf.at/