Turkey-Syria Earthquake

4^th May 2023 Latest Statement: Turkey Earthquake

As of May 2023, Khalsa Aid’s volunteers are still on the ground in Turkey, providing essential aid relief to those impacted by the devastating earthquake.

In the coming weeks, Khalsa Aid is heading into its final stage of distribution and will help local organisations by providing essential aid. For the latest updates on our relief efforts in Turkey, follow Khalsa Aid on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

We want to thank all our supporters for your continued support.

April 2023 Update

Volunteers were initially giving hot meals to those displaced by the earthquake. However, as the direct aftermath of the earthquake began to settle, the type of aid needed began to change. As such, Khalsa Aid expanded its operations and focused on filling the gaps in terms of the type of aid required by distributing essential WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) items such as dignitary packs, along with continuing to provide food packs and blankets.

Volunteers have provided 2000+ food packs, 8000+ blankets, 10,000+ dignity packs and hygiene kits, 19,000+ hot meals, and over 133,000 water bottles.

March 2023 Update

Volunteers bought toys for Children’s Day in İslâhiye and continued distributing food and water in Kahramanmaraş and Gaziantep with the Iqra Charity. A second team of Volunteers collaborated with a local charity, Yardimeli Charity, to deliver food and water in Şanlıurfa as well as to help the people affected by the flood.

Distribution of 400 food packs continued with BCF in Adıyaman’s camps and 100 to Gaziantep and Altar. Khalsa Aid also worked with Iqra to distribute 200 food packs in the villages around İslâhiye where people have been displaced.

Towards the end of March, Khalsa Aid volunteers distributed thousands of water bottles (2000+), hygiene kits (2000+) and dignity packs (3000+) in various areas including Şanlıurfa, Kahramanmaraş, Adıyaman Afad Camps, and Gaziantep.

Start of Aid Relief – February 2023

Khalsa Aid International mobilised a global response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Turkey. The first response was from the Khalsa Aid Iraq team, dispatched on the ground in Turkey within 24 hours of the earthquake to carry out assessments and deliver emergency support. A truckload of 3,500 blankets accompanied the team for distribution, and the team also set up the initial hot meals service.

Khalsa Aid CEO Ravi Singh arrived in Turkey to support the operational aid efforts. Barzani Charity Foundation (BCF), a non-profit NGO based in the Kurdistan Region-Iraq, has supported Khalsa Aid in setting up Langar (community kitchen) for those displaced in Şanlıurfa and İslâhiye. Our teams were based in Şanlıurfa and İslâhiye and served 3000 hot meals daily.

Special Thanks

The President of Kurdistan, Nechirvan Barzani, thanked Khalsa Aid for the work in Turkey during a visit to the area. We again thank British Airways for supporting Khalsa Aid to transport aid. The cargo allocated was four tonnes of water survival boxes (200 boxes), including water purification equipment, shelter and survival tools, hygiene supplies, and food/drink supplies. These have been donated for free by Watersurvivalbox Ltd.

Thank you to Lotus Flower for their incredible support and for working with Khalsa Aid to pack nearly 2,000 more winter coats, jackets, and socks for children impacted by the earthquake. Sweets were placed in the pockets as a tiny surprise. We thank both Sartaaj Foundation and Jeevan’s Gift Foundation (UK) for donating to our earthquake relief efforts.