Five places to donate to help people affected by the earthquake in Turkiye and Syria

The death toll from the devastating earthquake in Turkiye and Syria reached 5,000 on Tuesday, with overwhelmed rescuers struggling to save people trapped under the rubble. The magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit the region on Monday, toppling thousands of buildings, including apartment blocks and hospitals, leaving thousands of people injured and homeless.

According to the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), the death toll climbed to 3,381 people in Turkiye. The death toll in Syria stands at more than 1,500 according to a Syrian government and a rescue service in the insurgent-held northwest.

With many organisations jumping to help those affected by earthquake in Turkiye and Syria, very few have the option for people in Pakistan to contribute to relief efforts. We’ve compiled a list of organisations that you can easily donate to via credit card as foreign transfers from Pakistani banks may be difficult.

Alkhidmat Foundation

The Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan is a nonprofit humanitarian service that has been functioning since 1990. The organisation continues to work for the relief of affected people across Pakistan and and the world. Recently, we saw the humanitarian organisation’s effort to collect funds for the flood affected areas of Pakistan. Now the organisation is collecting funds to help people of Turkiye and Syria affected by the earthquake.

You can donate here.

International Rescue Committee

Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a non-government organisation that caters to humanitarian crisis around the world and works in more than 40 countries. IRC helps to restore health, safety, education, economic well-being, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster.

According to the IRC, the Syria Humanitarian Response Plan (2022-2023) is already severely underfunded with less than 50 per cent of the required $4 billion funded. The earthquake increases the quantity and severity of needs on the ground. Therefore, the organisation is collecting funds for people affected by earthquake both in Syria and Turkiye.

You can donate here.

Save The Children Fund

Save The Children Fund is a non-government organisation established in the UK in 1919 for the well-being of children by helping them through education, healthcare and economic opportunities. The organisation worked for the children affected by floods in Pakistan and is now arranging funds for children affected by the earthquake in Syria and Turkiye.

You can donate here.

Penny Appeal

Penny Appeal is a Muslim non-profit humanitarian organisation that was set up in 2009 in the UK as well as Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. They offer water solutions, mass meal plans, orphan care and provide emergency relief like food and medical aid.

The organisation is now collecting funds for the people for Turkiye and Syria. The organisation is on the ground working with partners to reach those affected. They are working to provide emergency medical aid and essentials needed to get through this time.

You can donate here.

UNICEF

The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has also mobilised aid to Syria as well as Turkey. The United Nations agency is focusing on assessing the impact the earthquake had on water stations and any other interruptions to services. It’s assessing damages schools face. UNICEF, on their website, said that another priority is helping the children find their families.

You can donate here.