Turkey Disaster Relief

This Mission

IMR is sending disaster relief teams to southern Turkey 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 is overwhelming! Tens of thousands of people have lost their lives in Turkey and northeastern Syria, and tens of thousands more are injured. Search and rescue teams are still working to locate survivors.

IMR is 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 have delegated IMR the authority of overseeing relief operations, and a housing compound has been established for volunteers. Medical volunteers of any specialty are desperately needed!

Current situation:

• The death toll has soared to tens of thousands in Turkey and northern Syria.
• Tens of thousands of people have been left homeless and having to survive in the bitter cold.
• Cities in Turkey affected include Gaziantep, Nurdagi, Adana, Sanliurfa, and Iskenderun.
• Local medical officials report that hospitals in impacted areas are overwhelmed by sudden needs and may be short staffed.
• IMR is collecting much needed supplies. Help fund critical medical care, medicines, medical supplies, hygiene kits, water purification kits, and personal protective equipment for distribution. Donate now!
• IMR is establishing locations for First Responders to provide medical care in collaboration with our local partners in Turkey.

We are working with health agencies and local partners to provide the following relief services: acute primary medical and emergency medical services, dental care, mental health and continuing health education.  IMR has been working globally to prevent infectious diseases and will continue this work, as well as Covid-19 protection for those displaced from the current earthquake.

Our teams are required to be adaptable to rapidly changing conditions and have an understanding that rapid response teams require strength and compassionate care and service.  The war in Syria has resulted in devastating humanitarian consequences for the people, including lost livelihoods and limited access to healthcare as they embark on new territory and a new future. These refugees that fled conflict-affected areas have experienced incredible losses on multiple levels, compounding their suffering.