Responding to the Turkey-Syria Earthquake
The images of flattened buildings and extraordinary number of fatalities following a series of devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria have been heartbreaking. Our thoughts go out to all those who have been impacted. We continue to be inspired by the philanthropists who are reaching out to see what they can do to help.
This is a complex crisis and long-term support will be best understood once needs assessments are completed and the nonprofit infrastructure has had time to get established in the affected regions. In the meantime, the Center for Disaster Philanthropy has several resources including a full disaster profile and a blog post detailing 3 ways you can support survivors, as well as a webinar on Thursday, Feb 16th at noon EST on A layered disaster: Supporting long-term recovery in Turkey and Syria.
Additional Resources:
Established humanitarian and aid organizations are quick to respond to crises and frequently set up dedicated recovery funds as soon as a disaster has occurred. As each situation unfolds, reputable media outlets will provide updates and roundups to help facilitate aid. Check these organizations and sites regularly for the latest information.
- International Rescue Committee
- Save the Children
- Medecins Sans Frontiere
- Red Cross
- World Central Kitchen
- Time: How to Help Victims of the Earthquakes in Turkey
- The Guardian: Where to donate in the US to help victims
- NPR: How is the U.S. helping the victims of last week’s quake in Turkey and Syria?
Foundations can play pivotal roles in supporting the long process of recovery. When search and rescue efforts have concluded and the physical sites have been deemed safe, communities try to return to their lives. They will need support from local and international nonprofits to get back on their feet. Foundation grants can be enormously useful in these situations, while ongoing grant support is even more valuable.
Interested in other conversations around disaster philanthropy?
Checkout our webinar with the Center for Disaster Philanthropy to learn about the unique role that private foundations can play in mitigating the impact of natural and global health crises, and our roundtable discussion with subject matter experts to learn about the Best Practices & Innovations for Strategic Giving in Times of Crisis.
Resources to evaluate charities:
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/how-donate-wisely-and-avoid-charity-scams#research
https://www.fbi.gov/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/charity-and-disaster-fraud
https://www.charitynavigator.org/
Disaster Relief: Providing Assistance Through Charitable Organizations: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p3833.pdf
*Foundation Source does not evaluate or endorse charitable organizations or provide guidance on where or how much to donate.
