On February 6, around 4:15 a.m. local time, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck south central Türkiye near the Türkiye/Syria border. Just 11 minutes later, it was followed by a magnitude 6.7 aftershock. More than 100 aftershocks have taken place, with the largest a magnitude 7.5 striking about 60 miles north of the initial quakes. USGS observations and analyses indicate all of these events occurred within the East Anatolian fault system.
This event was catastrophic, causing extensive loss of life, casualties, property destruction, and infrastructure disruption. The crisis is exacerbated by the region’s harsh winter conditions. First responders and on-the-ground NGOs began assisting people immediately, and the the U.S. government and other countries quickly deployed resources to support lifesaving activities.
In the initial stage of crises such as this, businesses often choose to prioritize assistance for affected employees and their families, as well as support for credible, established humanitarian NGOs. Without doubt, humanitarian needs will fluctuate as the on-the-ground situation changes. This page will keep the business community up to date with guidance and resources to assist in contributing to an effective response.
If your company wants to provide humanitarian support, the U.S. Chamber Foundation has compiled the following resources. We will continue to update this list as more information becomes available. Please email us with questions.
Briefings and Status Updates
Friday, February 10, 2023
- As Post-Earthquake Humanitarian Needs Mount in Türkiye and Syria, U.S. Business Community Mobilizes Support
- Watch recording of Chamber Foundation coordination call with the Turkish and U.S. Ambassadors, AmCham Türkiye, and USAID
Providing Support
This situation is exceptionally dynamic, so financial contributions will move faster than donated goods. Cash assists with bolstering the supply chains of responders already positioned to meet humanitarian needs, while also avoiding burdening those supply chains with goods that are well intended but not appropriate for this particular crisis.
"One cannot ignore the human toll and opportunity to help others who have been impacted by this ongoing crisis." - Rob Glenn, VP Global Resilience, U.S. Chamber Foundation
Partners responding to the most immediate needs:
North American NGOs:
- Airlink
- American Red Cross
- CARE
- Direct Relief
- Project Hope
- Save the Children
- Turkish Philanthropy Funds
- World Central Kitchen
NGOs in Türkiye or Syria:
- AHBAP
- Search and Rescue Association AKUT
- International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
UN agencies and their supporting foundations:
* We recommend that companies interested in making an in-kind donation first contact UN Connecting Business Initiative to ensure the intended goods/products are needed and able to be distributed.
