Volunteers Needed for Relief for the
Turkey-Syria Earthquake
Turkey’s Need for Help is Overwhelming
IMR began sending disaster relief teams to southern Turkey immediately in response to the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria on Sunday, February 5, and the ongoing aftershocks. The need for volunteers has been constant ever since!
After the earthquake, tens of thousands of people lost their lives and tens of thousands more were injured. Hospitals and clinics were permanently damaged or destroyed, and residents of communities hardest hit remain unable to enter many of those buildings to access their regular care.
IMR became the exclusive NGO overseeing a large hospital in the central region of the disaster where 80% of the buildings were destroyed. Hospital leadership and the provincial governor delegated IMR the authority of overseeing relief operations, and a housing compound was established for volunteers.
Current Situation
The rescue and relief efforts have successfully concluded, and now IMR has entered into the next phase of recovery. IMR is managing the medical care of multiple communities as they navigate through this time of need. IMR volunteers are helping residents navigate community health, referrals, and connections within the local Turkish medical system.
The Turkish agricultural system depends on migrant workers that come in for the harvest. These workers that can’t access care in traditional settings are also being treated in full comprehensive medical and dental clinics hosted by IMR in the Cappadocia region of the country. These clinics provide triage, head-to-toe physical examinations, well checks, laboratory services, diagnoses, and a full pharmacy.
In addition, they provide sustainable education, training, and certification on various health topics to elevate the level of care provided in the field, not only when IMR teams are there, but with local staff and medical professionals long term.
We Need Volunteers to Respond and Donations for Medicine and Medical Supplies!
IMR's Earthquake Disaster Response
IMR disaster relief teams respond in waves according to the needs of the people in an area after disaster strikes. We mobilize our volunteers based on their skill set as it relates to the urgency of the victims. For Turkey and Syria earthquake volunteers, we are in Phase 3 in need of Relief Responders.
Our immediate responders are surgical and orthopedic volunteers, urgent care providers, and wound care specialists that can help with immediate patient stabilization. The need now includes general family practice and internal medicine providers, and mid-level practitioners, as well as nonmedical volunteers for our clinic operations. Our community health education focus is on clean water solutions, and accessing shelter, water, medical, and other assistance programs that may be available.
If you have the ability to join our disaster relief response to the Turkey-Syria earthquake, apply for one of the available missions and we will be in contact with you regarding the details.
