Dear John,

I am reaching out to you today with a heavy heart in the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes that struck Türkiye and Syria.

As of this morning, the earthquake has claimed the lives of over 25,000 people in both countries, with an unknown number still missing beneath the rubble and countless injured. Families are now living in collective shelters, unable to return to their homes. The situation has been made even more difficult by the harsh winter weather that is gripping the region.

We have been working around the clock to help those affected. In support of national efforts in Türkiye, and working with our partners in Syria, thousands of people have received emergency aid such as thermal blankets, mattresses, solar lamps and winter clothes. On Saturday a UNHCR airlift flew from Dubai to Istanbul, carrying high-thermal blankets and tents to add to support already provided.

“I feel like I am dying. I was sleeping that time, I see something shaking. I heard my wife say ‘earthquake, earthquake!’” Mazen, a father of four who was previously displaced from his home in the Salahadin neighbourhood of Aleppo

We’ve experienced many challenges — earthquake damage and freezing winter storms have made aid delivery extremely difficult, blocking a key road from Türkiye to northwest Syria used for humanitarian access. Thankfully, we already had some supplies in stock in northwest Syria which our partners began delivering, and on Saturday, we were part of a convoy taking 12 truckloads of core relief items into northwest Syria. 

We are reaching out to you today to ask you to join our aid efforts — to help these families who have lost everything. Any contribution, no matter how small, will make a difference in providing them with the support they need to survive this difficult time.

Please consider making a donation today to help provide life-saving assistance to survivors. 

Thank you for your continued support,

Breno Valentini
International Supporter Care
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency