By Negin Khodayari
After devastating earthquakes hit Türkiye and Syria last week, Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) students may be looking for reliable resources to help both countries as they recover.
A 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit southeast Türkiye and northern Syria on the morning of Feb. 6, causing the collapse of approximately 3,000 buildings. It was followed by another 7.5 magnitude earthquake a few hours later, according to the United Nations (UN).
As of Monday Feb. 13, the death toll had risen to over 36,000 in the affected regions, according to AFAD and The White Helmets civil defence group.
As the victims face challenges in the wake of freezing temperatures and supply shortages, The Eyeopener has compiled a list of trustworthy resources and donation sites, on and off campus, to help those impacted by the earthquakes.
TMSU Emergency Supply Donations
The Toronto Metropolitan Students’ Union (TMSU) is collecting donations from Feb. 13 to Feb. 17 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. outside the Student Campus Centre (SCC). They will be accepting tagged and unopened items only, which will be given to the Federation of Canadian Turkish Associations. The list of high-demand items include: tents, blankets, sleeping bags, thermoses, diapers, menstrual supplies, winter jackets, gloves, scarves and canned foods. For more updates and the complete list, visit @yourtmsu on Instagram.
TMU Muslim Students’ Association Donations
The Muslim Students’ Association (MSA) at TMU is encouraging students to donate to a LaunchGood campaign started by Action for Humanity—a United Kingdom-based aid foundation that provides assistance to those devastated by conflict, according to its website. The donation link can be found in the bio of TMU MSA’s Instagram, @torontometmsa.
The UN Refugee Agency Türkiye and Syria Earthquake Response
The United Nations Refugee Agency in Canada is collecting donations to help provide immediate assistance including shelter, tents, blankets and other non-food items to displaced people in Syria and Türkiye. You are given the option to make a one-time or monthly donation on their website at give.unhcr.ca
The Canadian Red Cross
The Canadian Red Cross is actively working to deliver emergency relief to victims impacted by the earthquakes. According to its website, the Government of Canada matched public donations in the amount of $10 million on Feb. 12. All donations made from now on will continue to be sent to aid Türkiye and Syria.
International Blue Crescent Relief and Development Foundation
According to the Global Giving website, International Blue Crescent (IBC) has begun relief efforts working directly from offices in the cities of Gaziantep and Hatay, two epicenters of the disaster in Türkiye. Additionally, IBC offices in Kilis—which is on the border of the Türkiye and Syria—are providing relief aid, such as tents and blankets, in northern Syria. To donate, visit globalgiving.org
UPDATE: A previous version of this article reported the magnitude of the Earthquake was 7.6. The article has since been updated to reflect the most current reporting on the magnitude of the earthquake.
Leave a Reply