The Institute of Social Anthropology extends its deepest condolences and sympathy to all those who have lost loved ones or friends in the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.
Urgent Call for International Solidarity with the Victims of the Earthquake in Turkey and Northern Syria
On February 6, 2023, two earthquakes measuring 7.4-7.8 on the Richter scale occurred in Turkey, centered in the province of Kahramanmaras affecting an area within a radius of about 400 km. The earthquakes affected 10 surrounding provinces, particularly Antakya, Antep, Adıyaman, Adana, Diyarbakır, Malatya, Osmaniye, and Urfa, where about 13,5 million people live, including about 2 million Syrian refugees. The earthquake also hit the northern Syrian cities of Aleppo and Idlib. An estimated 185 000 victims are buried under the rubble. Rescue efforts have not arrived in the critical first 48 hours in most affected areas. Thousands of buildings collapsed, including hospitals, nursery homes, town halls, and other infrastructure. The death toll and injuries are rising with each passing hour, and rescue efforts have not yet arrived in broad swaths of the affected areas. Heavy snowfall, heavy rains, and sub-zero temperatures make the situation even more critical for the injured and survivors. Villages and rural areas in particular lack rescue workers, medical supplies and food. There is currently a shortage of everything: rescue workers, medical supplies, electricity, water, food, clothing, tents, heaters, and much more. Through social media, victims ask for help to be pulled out of collapsed buildings; relatives search for missing family members; a great shock and despair spreads far outside the affected region.The epicenter of the earthquake is an area where predominantly persecuted communities such as Alevis, Arabs, Armenians, Assyrians and Kurds have been living. Due to the history of persecution and state violence, this region has been already suffering from inadequate infrastructure and economic disadvantage. The destruction and suffering caused by these earthquakes are of a magnitude that the region has not yet experienced and there is growing concern about the lack of adequate state-led assistance so far. Therefore, immediate international assistance for all victims in the region is of urgent importance. Please find below a list of organisations that provide immediate assistance to those in need. Alongside with the established organizations, the “Solidaritätsaktion für Erdbebenopfer in der Türkei/Syrien» is an initiative by Turkey community members in Basel with close and extensive connections to the affected region and therefore able to efficiently and directly transfer funds.
Solidaritätsaktion für Erdbebenopfer in der Türkei/Syrien
IBAN CH36 0077 0255 2293-6200 1
White Helmets: www.whitehelmets.org/en/
Diyabakir Bar Association: EURO Account
IBAN TR70 0003 2000 1280 0000 0179 06
medico international schweiz
IBAN CH57 0900 0000 8000 7869 1
Quellenstrasse 25
8005 Zürich
Ahbap Dernegi
İş Bankası (EUR Account)
1021-2150277
IBAN: TR15 0006 4000 0021 0212 1502 77
SWIFT: ISBKTRIS
Glückskette
IBAN CH82 0900 0000 1001 5000 6
SWIFT: POFICHBEXXX
1211 Genf 8
Molhamteam
