Earthquake in Turkey and Syria: UK aid appeal tops £100 million

• The DEC has raised over £100 million for earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria.
• With celebrities including Daniel Craig, Tamsin Greig, Michael Palin, and Richard Coles endorsing appeal.
• 1.5m in the southern region of Turkey are now homeless as a result of earthquakes.

In just two weeks, more than £100 million has been raised for an aid appeal for earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria.

The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), an umbrella organisation of UK charities, organized the contribution drive.

On February 6, there were significant earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria, causing about 44,000 fatalities and over 100,000 injuries.

This week, a 6.4 magnitude earthquake that struck close to the southern city of Antakya in Turkey left at least six people dead.

The UN reports that 1.5 million people in the southern region of Turkey are now homeless as a result of the earthquakes.

In Turkey and Syria, thousands of structures, including hospitals and schools, have fallen. Roads and energy supply are among the infrastructure that has been severely affected.

On February 9, television and radio stations began airing the DEC campaign, which has now raised £101.5 million.

Celebrities including Daniel Craig, Tamsin Greig, Sir Michael Palin, and Reverend Richard Coles have endorsed it.

The group said money raised would go towards “providing emergency shelter, medical care, hot food and food parcels, blankets, bedding and other household items, clean water and safe spaces for children”.

King Charles, the Queen Consort, and the Prince and Princess of Wales all donated private donations to the cause.

Through its UK Aid Match program, which matches donations made to charitable causes, the UK government has also made a $5 million contribution to the fund.

Saleh Saeed, chief executive of the DEC, said the public had “once again excelled and supported people when they need it most”.

“With a third earthquake, people are terrified all over again. They are scared of being in their own homes if they remain standing, and are worried about being unable to provide for their families with no job to go to,” he said.

Actor Daniel Craig said the response from the public had been “incredibly moving to see”, while Sir Michael Palin said the crisis is “deepening” for many people in Turkey and Syria.

“It is bitterly cold in Turkey and northwest Syria and it’s hard to grasp how families are coping,” he said.

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