UPDATE: 1 June 2023 – Since the early days of the earthquake, BGR International provided food, water, and blankets to those displaced. Now we are concentrating on trauma care and counseling to those impacted by the devastation.
Thank you for your continued support. Here is a story from one of the people you helped
“We could not believe this could happen to us. Yes, we have earthquakes in this area but not where our apartment is. We felt safe there. But not now.
“When the earthquake hit, we left our apartment with only the clothes we had on and ran into the streets. It was not long before people showed up with blankets, water and some food. We were so grateful for them. Thank you for giving so we were able to survive. “
BGR International is responding to the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria on 6 February 2023. Within hours of the disaster, our local partners began providing blankets, water bottles, food and other emergency supplies in impacted neighborhoods.
With more than 1,200 recorded aftershocks, many people are terrified to go back into their homes, even if they’re some of the few still standing. Every time the ground shakes, they relive the trauma.
Tens of thousands of survivors are sleeping in the streets, in their cars or in parking lots to avoid being crushed by rubble if another building collapses. Families are spending excruciating nights exposed to the elements.
As BGR International partners helped those sleeping on the streets and in their cars, they found that, while survivors were grateful for the blankets and bags of sandwiches, many told volunteers, “Thank you, but we will only take a few. There are other people around here who are in greater need than us.”
BGR International is currently providing training on trauma-informed care, as the emotional toll is going to increase greatly over the coming weeks. The number of confirmed deaths is currently estimated to be over 59.000 people.
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