Turkey-Syria Earthquakes
Essential information on visa for relatives, donation, psychological help and more
The horrific earthquakes on February 6th, 2023, destroyed large parts of southeastern Turkey and northern Syria. Millions of people are affected in those regions, and many have lost their homes. So far, 60000 have been reported dead.
Many in Germany have been trying to support their affected relatives. Here you can learn about the ways your loved ones might be able to come to Germany and other relevant topics.
As soon as there are any developments, we will inform you here on our website. All information is also available in German, Turkish and Arabic.
Main source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
How can I help?
The willingness to donate to the victims is very high in Germany. Huge amounts of material and financial donations have already been made.
Material Donation
If you would like to make a material donation, you should consider a few things: What do the people in the earthquake-affected need NOW? What has already been sufficiently donated enough? How can the donation reach the people best? It may be that private donation campaigns currently have no way of answering these questions. Find out where material donations are being collected in your city or municipality. It is advisable to donate things to aid organisations that are already on site in earthquake-affected regions. They can coordinate with other organisations. Many relief goods can also be procured in Turkey and transported to the earthquake-affected areas, which is often cheaper and more effective than transportinh goods from Germany.
Monetary donation
If you want to donate money, you have, for example, the option of donating to (medical) aid organisations and associations. The earthquake survivors urgently need medical care, food, clean drinking water, tents, and heaters, and the necessary infrastructure must be reconstructed. You can also support private donation campaigns organised by your acquaintances. They often want to financially support their families and loved ones in the affected regions, as they have lost everything. Always make sure the donation collectors are trustworthy first.
