Over 400 tons of medical aid has been delivered or is pending delivery since the region was devastated by seismic activity.
Almost three months have passed since the devastating February 6 earthquakes rocked southern Turkey and northern Syria, and humanitarian needs remain high across the impacted areas in both countries.
The combined impact of the earthquakes has been catastrophic across the region, killing more than 55,000 people and injuring more than 100,000, making this the deadliest earthquake disaster to strike the region in centuries. Hundreds of thousands of buildings were damaged or destroyed, and millions of people remain displaced and living in temporary shelter accommodations across the region.
Direct Relief mobilized emergency resources immediately, providing field medic packs, emergency funding for search and rescue operations, as well as responding to requests for medical aid from Turkey’s Ministry of Health and local organizations in both Turkey and Syria that were providing health services to impacted communities.
Since Feb. 6, 2023, Direct Relief has provided 408 tons of medical aid, valued wholesale at $85.3 million, to support health services in the wake of the earthquakes.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
The information included in this report by necessity includes unaudited figures because the organization’s formal audit coincides with its fiscal year, which is from July 1 to June 30. Audited figures for this period will be included when that audit and report are completed. Numbers are as of April 28, 2023.
Who Donated to the Response?
In response to the crisis, Direct Relief received contributions from 48,826 donors totaling $14,122,676 from individuals, foundations, businesses, and organizations located in 110 countries (including the U.S.). Donations from all 50 U.S. states and 4 territories were received.
Of the total amount of Turkey-Syria earthquake-designated contributions —
- $8,375,543 was contributed by 48,667 individuals
- $4,880,633 was contributed by 120 businesses
- $866,500 was contributed by 39 foundations
How Were the Funds Used?
Of the total Turkey-Syria earthquake response-designated cash contributions received to date, Direct Relief has expended or committed $6,383,843 to improve the health and lives of people affected by the disaster.
This includes:
- $1,761,920 on transportation (paid and pending)
- $2,670,000 on financial assistance to organizations supporting emergency response
- $1,322,406 on procurement of oxygen concentrators, field medic packs, and other supplies
- $629,517 on emergency personnel costs and other organizational response management expenses
Consistent with Direct Relief’s Donation Policy, 100 percent of funds received for specific emergency events are devoted entirely to those events and none of the funds donated for Turkey-Syria earthquake response have been used for fundraising.
(As explained here, all Direct Relief’s fundraising expenses are paid by the Direct Relief Foundation, which uses earnings on previously received bequests to the organization for this purpose and other non-programmatic costs.)
** MEDICAL MATERIAL ASSISTANCE**
Direct Relief’s main objective in any large-scale disaster response is to safely and securely deliver emergency medical resources – that are requested, approved by the responsible government authority, and appropriate for the circumstances – where they are most needed, as fast and efficiently as possible.
Direct Relief’s earthquake response support can be divided into three categories:** medical material assistance, direct financial assistance and information assistance.**
Even as aftershocks continued, Direct Relief began to work with Turkey’s Ministry of Health and local organizations to determine real-time needs across the country’s health system and to determine and coordinate logistics to meet as many needs as possible.
In Syria, Direct Relief relied on longstanding relationships with groups that have been active in the country for many years and leveraged existing aid channels to funnel in a high volume of aid.
Direct Relief’s main objective in any large-scale disaster response is to safely and securely deliver emergency medical resources – that are requested, approved by the responsible government authority, and appropriate for the circumstances – where they are most needed, as fast and efficiently as possible.
Direct Relief’s earthquake response support can be divided into three categories:** medical material assistance, direct financial assistance and information assistance.**
Even as aftershocks continued, Direct Relief began to work with Turkey’s Ministry of Health and local organizations to determine real-time needs across the country’s health system and to determine and coordinate logistics to meet as many needs as possible.
In Syria, Direct Relief relied on longstanding relationships with groups that have been active in the country for many years and leveraged existing aid channels to funnel in a high volume of aid.
In Turkey
Healthcare facilities and organizations in Turkey that have received medical goods include:
- Turkey’s Ministry of Health
- AKUT Search and Rescue
- Ahbap Dernegi
- Adana Metropolitan Municipality
- Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality
In Syria
Healthcare facilities and organizations in Syria that have received medical goods include:
- Syrian American Medical Society
- Syrian Relief and Development
- Independent Doctor’s Association
DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Thanks to the outpouring of financial support from donors, Direct Relief is providing cash assistance to help facilities and organizations effectively respond to the huge surge of patients at a time when many healthcare facilities have been damaged.
To date, Direct Relief has identified, vetted, and awarded emergency financial support totaling $2,703,675 in cash support for groups responding to medical needs related to the earthquake. The organization has supported groups in Turkey with $820,000 in funding and groups in Syria with $1,883,675.
Source: Reliefweb
