Dear John,

I am writing to update you on the latest developments following the devastating earthquakes earlier this week in Türkiye and Syria. As you know, the situation is rapidly evolving, and we are working through the day and night to assess the needs of people affected and deliver critical aid where it’s needed most. Join us in making a difference by donating now.

In Türkiye, the provinces most affected by the earthquakes are also home to large numbers of refugees. We are working closely with Turkish authorities and other UN agencies to provide urgently requested support, including kitchen sets, mattresses, and tents, to both refugees and host communities. We stand ready to scale up our support further at any time.

In Syria we are providing immediate assistance to those in need and coordinating the response with our partners. Despite the severe challenges involved in accessing roads and infrastructure heavily damaged by the earthquakes and by years of conflict, with our partners we have already reached thousands of people with emergency relief items including high thermal blankets, mattresses, sleeping mats, kitchen sets and more. In our warehouses in the most impacted locations, we already had 18,100 core relief item kits available and ready for distribution.

We are working relentlessly to keep up with the immense increasing needs and will continue to update you on our efforts to support those affected by the earthquakes. Your support and commitment are greatly appreciated. Together, we can bring hope to those affected by the earthquakes.

Best regards,

Astrid van Genderen Stort
Chief of Emergencies and External Engagement Section
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency