Mujeres Unidas y Activas (MUA) is devastated and heartbroken by the news of the two large earthquakes that affected southern Turkey and northern Syria on February 6th, affecting hundreds of communities in both Turkey and Syria.  At least 36,000 people are known to have died and over 90,000 were injured, and efforts to identify victims are ongoing as rescue crews dig through the many buildings that have collapsed. We extend our deepest condolences to the families impacted and we wish for their safety as they seek shelter and support.

The impact of this earthquake caused tens of thousands of people to be homeless, and the temperatures keep dropping, making it a worse problem for the survivors.  We hope that the international community can provide support to the people of Syria and Turkey to recover and rebuild.  Both countries have suffered under authoritarian governments in which large portions of the country do not have the infrastructure necessary to support the population. In Syria, the earthquake comes in the 12th year of an ongoing civil war in which over 350,000 people have died and over half the population has been displaced.  By supporting a strong civil society, we hope that the people can organize to create more peaceful, democratic and egalitarian societies in both Syria and Turkey.  

Please support the survivors of Turkey and Syria by donating at the following links: 

Doctors without Borders is sending medical teams and providing supplies to local hospitals:

https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/secure/turkey-syria-earthquake-onetime

Ahbap is a Turkish community organization providing shelter, food, and medical supplies to those in need: https://bagis.ahbap.org/bagis