Catholic Relief Services is accepting donations for relief and long-term recovery in Turkey and Syria, where a series of strong earthquakes killed at least 20,000 people and injured more than 40,000.
A 7.8 magnitude earthquake as measured by the U.S. Geological Survey hit southern Turkey before dawn Feb. 6, 2023,, wreaking havoc in large areas of neighboring Syria. It was followed by what the geological survey said was a separate 7.5 magnitude earthquake, less than 12 hours later some 60 miles away.
Chaldean Catholic Bishop Antoine Audo of Aleppo told Vatican News that he had never seen such destruction in war-torn Syria. “There was a strong fear and now the people are in the street, in the cold and under the rain,” he said. “There is damage everywhere, even in the cathedral. The libraries are destroyed, the houses crumbled. It’s an apocalyptic situation.”
Reacting to the “heartbreaking scenes” of death and destruction, the chairman of the U.S. bishops’ international policy committee urged U.S. Catholics and all people of good will to pray for the victims in Turkey and Syria and to give generously to those in need. “I join with our Holy Father Pope Francis in praying for the souls of the departed as we mourn the loss of so many lives,” said the committee’s chair, Bishop David J. Malloy of Rockford, Illinois.
CRS is supporting local partners like Caritas Syria in Aleppo and Latakia, and Caritas Anatolia in Turkey in coordination with local authorities to bring those displaced by the earthquakes to safe, open spaces and provide them with hot meals and clothing. Support to meet evolving needs include safe shelter, access to food, hygiene supplies and winter items.