Global Studies Statement on Earthquakes in Turkey & Syria

The UNC Curriculum in Global Studies stands with the people of Turkey and Syria in the wake of two devastating earthquakes on February 6, 2023. The scale of the destruction and the loss of life in these earthquakes have been unprecedented and the humanitarian crisis is ongoing. The death toll exceeds 41,000 and is expected to increase. Exponentially more have been injured. Dozens of countries around the world have sent search and rescue teams to assist their Turkish and Syrian counterparts and the international community has been raising funds to help the survivors. However, the social, political, and economic aftereffects of these earthquakes will continue for much longer. We invite our Global Studies community to stand in solidarity with those affected by the earthquakes and support the recovery efforts.  

For those interested in the work of relief organizations and donating to them, here is a list of reputable organizations in the United States, Turkey, and Syria: Bridge to Turkey (began in the Triangle (North Carolina) and works directly with local Turkish organizations engaged in relief efforts for earthquake survivors), Turkish Philanthropy Fund; Ahbap; AKUT; Boğaziçi Üniversitesi Yurtdışı Topluluğu; Syrian-American Medical Society; Oxfam; UNHCR; Action For Humanity; Nuday Syria; Molham; Kahramanmaraş Earthquake Emergency Relief Fund; Unicef; Assyrians without Borders

There’s also a relief campaign for the students of the largest universities of Turkey (Boğaziçi University, Middle East Technical University, Istanbul Technical University, Yıldız Technical University, Ankara University and Hacettepe University) who directly affected by the February 6th earthquakes: https://boyutbogazici.org/en/donation/