Turkey and Syria earthquakes: what you can do to help
Major earthquakes hit south-east Turkey and the north-west region of Syria on 6 February 2023. Here is how you can help.
Financial donations
If you want to donate money, there are a number of charities providing humanitarian relief in Turkey and Syria.
The UK government matched, pound-for-pound, £5 million of public donations to this appeal.
Make your donation safely
There are lots of organisations across the UK and internationally who have launched appeals, and you may wish to donate through these organisations instead. Charities with experience of responding to disasters are best placed to reach victims on the ground.
There are some simple steps you can take to ensure your money is safe and being used effectively:
- check the charity’s name and registration number using the search the charity register tool
- most charities with an income of £5,000 or more must be registered, which means they are regulated by The Charity Commission
- make sure the charity is genuine before giving any financial information
- if in doubt, ask the charity or organisation for more information
Donating essential supplies
One of the best ways to help is by donating cash through trusted charities and aid organisations, rather than donating goods. Cash can be transferred quickly to areas where it is needed and individuals and aid organisations can use it to buy what is most needed.
Unsolicited donations of goods, although well-meant, can obstruct supply chains and delay more urgent life-saving assistance from getting through. If you wish to donate goods, check with charities and community groups. They will have lists of items they need.
Media enquiries
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