Please give safely when responding to the earthquake in Turkey and Syria
A message from the Commission's Interim Chair
On Monday 6 February 2023, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southern Turkey, devastating Turkey and Syria, followed by a series of powerful aftershocks. Today (10 February 2023), as I write this, reports are suggesting more than 21,000 people have lost their lives and many more have been injured.
As we watch this terrible news continue to unfold, many of us in Northern Ireland have looked at ways to respond to the crisis and help those affected by the devastation.
Such outpouring of support and sympathy is typical of the people of Northern Ireland. However, it’s important that everyone’s well-meaning intentions reach the intended destination. That’s why the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland is urging everyone to take some practical steps to ensure their donations are used as they should be, and to the best possible potential.
Our advice when donating is to look for a charity that already has a track record of providing the kind of practical supports and assistance that the Turkish and Syrian people need at this time. The quickest and most effective way is to contribute via the DEC (Disasters Emergency Committee) Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal or another registered charity.
If you are able to contribute via the DEC Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal, you can be assured your donation will be used to reach people in urgent need in the aftermath of the earthquakes. More than 5,000 Turkish Red Crescent (Kizilay) and Syrian Arab Red Crescent staff and volunteers are working around the clock in unimaginably difficult conditions to help people who have lost everything. They are providing support and aid that includes:
- distributing essentials like food, water and blankets
- setting up temporary shelters to support thousands of survivors who are facing freezing conditions
- providing first aid and crisis support
- assisting with the rescue efforts and getting people vital medical aid
- providing psychosocial support to those who have been traumatised.
We encourage donations to be made via well-established charities such as the DEC appeal because these organisations have experience of responding to disasters, and are therefore usually best placed to reach people on the ground. Giving financial aid through humanitarian aid organisations, rather than sending donated goods directly to regions, is also often more practical and sustainable.
While most fundraising is genuine, unfortunately, in these situations there are also people who will try to take advantage of this generosity. They will use different means to direct funds raised for charitable purposes for their own personal gain. It’s important that funds are given to organisations that can use them to reach the people who need help.
You can check whether a charity is registered and has this experience by going to the register of charities on the Commission’s website. If the charity is not listed, you should also check the Commission’s public combined list which details organisations awaiting contact by the Commission to apply for charity registration.
Gerard McCurdy
Interim Chair
Charity Commission for Northern Ireland