8 Things You Can Do To Support The Ones Affected By The Earthquake

The recent earthquakes in Turkiye Gaziantep, which affected Syria, and Lebanon have had a devastating impact on communities and have left many in need of support and aid. As the response and recovery efforts continue, it is crucial for us to come together as a global community to support those affected. In this blog post, we have compiled a list of 8 things you can do to provide support and make a difference in the lives of those impacted by this tragedy. From offering emotional support, to providing financial and logistical assistance, there are many ways in which we can come together to help.

Financial & Logistical Support

1. Offer to provide logistical support, e.g. help find temporary or alternative housing, locations for hot meals, or connect friends with trusted contacts in safe locations.
2. Offer to provide financial support, both in funds and in kind, e.g. book flights and hotels
3. Volunteer your time and skills to assist in the recovery effort, such as coordinating clothing drives, organizing a support group  and/or supporting fundraising efforts to reputable organizations
4. Support Professional Relief Workers Disaster relief requires specialised professional training such that volunteers do not also become additional victims. Act in ways that ensure that the maximum amount of financial and other resources can go directly to the affected, and then to trained disaster relief workers.
5. Donate to reputable organizations providing disaster relief (Check our blog post here for a list of recommended organizations) or you can also donate to Jusoor's emergency earthquake relief campaign (Re)Building Hopes, helping Syrian families affected in the earthquakes.

Emotional Support

1. Check in consistently with those affected to provide ongoing emotional support >> listen and provide a supportive and empathetic ear
2. Respect the individual’s needs and boundaries, minimize questions, and do not push them to respond to you if they need space or are overwhelmed by the number of messages they are receiving.
3. Provide accurate and verified information only to those affected, to minimize confusion and overwhelm

Let us come together to offer hope and help to those affected by this disaster.