Solidarity with the victims of the earthquake
The earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria at the same time on February 6th, 2023 killed more than 60,000 people and injured thousands more, according to official figures. The people who survived were severely traumatized and had lost their entire existence. They were in shock and did not know how to continue their lives. There was a lack of basic food, water, shelter and clothing. Almost all the families had lost relatives or were desperately searching for them under the ruins.
The humanitarian aid organization Rahma Austria began its emergency aid work in both countries immediately after the disaster and was heavily involved in providing emergency aid to the affected regions in Turkey and Syria.
In the first week after the earthquake, we distributed emergency aid packages containing food, water and tents. In the days, weeks and months that followed, we handed out clothing, hygiene packages, socks, underwear and hot meals to the earthquake victims and also provided families with wood-burning stoves. Due to the far-reaching effects of the earthquake on the Turkish side, a logistics center was set up in Malatya, from which relief supplies were delivered to the cities of Hatay, Malatya, Gaziantep, Adıyaman and Kahramanmaras, which were also affected. A total of around 70 volunteers made their way to the affected areas, including a doctor and nurses as well as several social workers.
We also organized a team of five psychotherapists and brought them to the crisis region. They provided psychological care for the traumatized earthquake victims. The intensive earthquake aid lasted for 5 months, until July 2023, but we want to continue to support the affected people and ease their path into an uncertain future. We will therefore continue the support as long as it is needed. In order to provide sustainable help, Rahma Austria therefore bought 205 container houses in Turkey as emergency accommodation for families whose homes had been destroyed and delivered the houses to the earthquake victims in Malatya in July 2023 via AFAD (Turkey's disaster management authority). At the same time, 16 permanent houses were built on the Syrian side and handed over to earthquake victims in May 2023.
As Rahma Austria, we have tried to heal the deepest wounds of the earthquake for so many survivors as possible through our solidarity and practical help. For this reason, we would like to thank everyone who donated to us and made this emergency aid possible. We have also received generous support for this project from Austrian civil society and are very grateful for this help. We would also like to thank all the volunteers who provided us with concrete and unbureaucratic support.
The humanitarian aid organization Rahma Austria began its emergency aid work in both countries immediately after the disaster and was heavily involved in providing emergency aid to the affected regions in Turkey and Syria.
In the first week after the earthquake, we distributed emergency aid packages containing food, water and tents. In the days, weeks and months that followed, we handed out clothing, hygiene packages, socks, underwear and hot meals to the earthquake victims and also provided families with wood-burning stoves. Due to the far-reaching effects of the earthquake on the Turkish side, a logistics center was set up in Malatya, from which relief supplies were delivered to the cities of Hatay, Malatya, Gaziantep, Adıyaman and Kahramanmaras, which were also affected. A total of around 70 volunteers made their way to the affected areas, including a doctor and nurses as well as several social workers.
We also organized a team of five psychotherapists and brought them to the crisis region. They provided psychological care for the traumatized earthquake victims. The intensive earthquake aid lasted for 5 months, until July 2023, but we want to continue to support the affected people and ease their path into an uncertain future. We will therefore continue the support as long as it is needed. In order to provide sustainable help, Rahma Austria therefore bought 205 container houses in Turkey as emergency accommodation for families whose homes had been destroyed and delivered the houses to the earthquake victims in Malatya in July 2023 via AFAD (Turkey's disaster management authority). At the same time, 16 permanent houses were built on the Syrian side and handed over to earthquake victims in May 2023.
As Rahma Austria, we have tried to heal the deepest wounds of the earthquake for so many survivors as possible through our solidarity and practical help. For this reason, we would like to thank everyone who donated to us and made this emergency aid possible. We have also received generous support for this project from Austrian civil society and are very grateful for this help. We would also like to thank all the volunteers who provided us with concrete and unbureaucratic support.
