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On Monday 6 February, an initial magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit in southern Turkey close to the border with northern Syria. A second 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck 9 hours later, with aftershocks following.

Two weeks after, on Monday 20 February, two more earthquakes struck in Turkey and were felt strongly in areas of Northwest Syria. People reported more buildings collapsing and widespread panic.

Thousands of people have died, with many more injured in the aftermath of the earthquakes. But it is not too late to save lives. Christian Aid is already working with partners in Syria to provide shelter, winter kits, food and clean water to people seeking shelter. Every prayer, every gift, every action brings hope to people hit by disaster. 

To save lives and give people hope, please donate what you can today.

It's not too late to save lives.

Every prayer, every gift, every action brings hope to people hit by disaster. By joining us, you can help people in need rebuild their lives.

Our response in Syria

Christian Aid has been working with local partners across Syria for decades and responding to the Syrian crisis since 2012.

Our partners have been among the first responders in Syria since the earthquakes struck. Despite the challenges, they’ve been working with locally-led relief efforts in Northwest Syria.

Image credits and information i
Christian Aid Partner Darna at a food distribution in one of the collective shelters in NW Syria Credit: Darna
Staff at a food distribution in one of the collective shelters in NW Syria

Dozens of people – including many children – are sleeping in the open on the streets without cover (or with makeshift covers) around fires. Families are sleeping on the ground, without shelter. 

- A Darna partner staff member, speaking on the conditions days after the earthquake.
  • £3.4m

    raised by Christian Aid supporters.

  • 60,000

    people reached in northwest Syria.

  • 5,000

    people reached in southern Turkey.

Latest updates

6 months on from the Turkey and Syria earthquakes

As communities rebuild, we share stories of stories of support from local organisations.

Turkey-Syria Earthquake - the first month

As the earthquakes struck, Christian Aid local partners were providing relief to meet immediate needs.
Image credits and information i
Darna partner staff members in NW Syria preparing for a distribution, in an area that has been hit the hardest. Credit: Darna
Darna partner staff members in NW Syria preparing for a distribution, in an area that has been hit the hardest.

The scenes from this disaster are heartbreaking. And even before this devastating earthquake, we knew over four million people needed aid in Northwest Syria alone.   We are hopeful that the British public will show the same spirit of solidarity and compassion that we saw in the aftermath of the invasion of Ukraine a year ago.  Every prayer, every gift, every action brings hope to people hit by disaster. By joining us, you can help people in need rebuild their lives.

- Patrick Watt, CEO of Christian Aid.

Prayer for the Turkey and Syria Earthquake Appeal

God of time and space, we cry to you for your children - our neighbours - in southern Turkey and northern Syria, following the earthquake that has devastated hundreds of lives. Only they and you know what it is like to experience such trauma in the middle of the night. 

We give thanks for the aid that is already being given and for the promises of help that have been made by many nations. 

Comfort, we pray, 

   those who are trapped in collapsed buildings; 

   those who have lost loved ones; 

   those who wait for news and 

   those digging through rubble to save others. 

Grant the gift of hope so that those caught between life and death know that you are with them and that others are ready to support them as they seek a future that overshadows the experiences of today. 

We ask this in the Name of Jesus, who endured so much for love of them. 

Amen

Share our resources

Download resources to share with your church congregation.

Turkey and Syria Earthquake Appeal Poster

Download and print this poster to show how your church can support our humanitarian work in Turkey and Syria.

Turkey and Syria Earthquake Appeal PowerPoint

A presentation about the appeal to use in services for a church collection. (Turkey and Syria)

Turkey and Syria Earthquake Appeal Poster (Welsh)

Download and print this poster to show how your church can support our humanitarian work in Turkey and Syria (Welsh)

Turkey and Syria Earthquake Appeal PowerPoint (Welsh)

A presentation about the appeal to use in services for a church collection in Welsh language.
By joining us, you can help people in need rebuild their lives.

People are facing a crisis on crisis. It is not too late to save lives.