MLAs gathered at Stormont today to support the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal and stand in solidarity with people affected by the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.
Hosted by Alliance Party MLA Kate Nicholl and supported by SDLP MLA Cara Hunter and DUP MLA Philip Brett, the event heard from Disasters Emergency Committee Chief Executive Saleh Saeed, Concern Worldwide programme coordinator in Turkey, Begum Akdoğan who is supporting aid efforts in the Turkish city of Adiyaman, and Mustafa Nadaf, a Syrian man who lives and works in Belfast, and told MLAs of his family’s experience in Idlib, Syria.
Nine days since the devastating earthquake struck, more than 41,000 people are known to have died. Many more have been injured and thousands of buildings, including hospitals and schools, have been reduced to rubble.
Over £1.1 million has been raised for the appeal in Northern Ireland since it launched on Thursday 9 February, while £74.1 million has been raised across the UK, including £5 million matched by the UK Government through the UK Aid Match scheme.
Addressing members of the Northern Ireland Assembly, DEC Chief Executive Saleh Saeed said:
“Thank you to the people of Northern Ireland, and members of the Northern Ireland Assembly, for rallying around the DEC Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal. With the help of the extraordinary £1.1 million donated in Northern Ireland so far, DEC charities are responding directly and through their local partners, delivering aid to affected communities both inside Turkey and in north-west Syria. They are meeting basic needs and finding ways to support people that need help.”
“The needs are immense, and we’re incredibly grateful for the response so far. Thank you to Kate Nicholl MLA for dedicating her time and resource to host this event.”
The DEC Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal is raising urgent funds to help people affected by the devastating earthquakes. It brings together 15 leading aid charities at times of crisis overseas, 14 of which are responding in Turkey and Syria.
In Northern Ireland, it includes Concern Worldwide, the British Red Cross, Save the Children and Tearfund, who continue to urge local people to support the DEC Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal where they can.
The most urgent needs on the ground in Turkey and Syria include medical care, emergency shelter, winter kits, food, clean water, sanitation, and hygiene. This week, doctors working in hospitals treating earthquake survivors warned there is an urgent need for trauma kits, antibiotics, and pain relief as well as more specialised equipment for crush injuries for hands and feet as well as brain surgery.
The DEC Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal is supporting hospitals and medical services through DEC member charities and their local partners in both countries.
Kate Nicholl, Alliance MLA said:
“Like others, I’ve been horrified by the harrowing images of the aftermath of the earthquakes and deeply saddened by the stories from survivors who are fighting to survive in harsh and freezing conditions. In a show of solidarity with the communities who have been devastated by this disaster and to honour the victims, I was pleased to host this event today, and support the DEC Turkey – Syria Earthquake Appeal to scale up their response and reach more people in need.”
Kevin McCaughan, Senior Institutional Programme Funding Officer at the British Red Cross in Northern Ireland said:
“The scale of the devastation across Turkey and Syria is becoming clear nine days on from the terrible earthquakes. To think that millions of people’s lives and livelihoods have been destroyed is hard to grasp, but it is the reality for so many right now. We have been impressed by the incredible generosity of the people of Northern Ireland so far. These donations will support the aid efforts which we know will need to continue for quite some time. We urge anyone who can to continue to support the appeal as needs develop.”