Turkey Syria earthquake: ActionAid hires in rescue equipment as death toll surpasses 11,000 and day three comes to a close
In a race against time to save people trapped under the rubble after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake early Monday morning, humanitarian organisation ActionAid is hiring rescue equipment to assist with search and rescue efforts.
On Tuesday evening, a young girl, trapped under the rubble in Northwest Syria was rescued by ActionAid’s local partner Violet. While under the rubble, the young girl asked first to go home, before remembering her home was destroyed in the blast and then asked to go elsewhere to safety – but first in her princess outfit.
Racha Nasreddine, Regional Director for ActionAid in the Arab Region said,
‘‘The images we are seeing come out of Syria and Turkey are heart wrenching. It’s now a race against time. People who lost their loved ones and their homes are in dire need of our support. We must join forces to deliver the urgently needed humanitarian support now. Syria is experiencing an emergency within an emergency.
“ActionAid’s partner Violet is working tirelessly around the clock to provide food, water, warm clothes and shelter. It is also leading on the search and rescue of people who a trapped, hiring equipment to assist with the mission.’’
The crisis has led to the closure of airports in Turkey, and the seaport has also been closed due to the earthquake damage. Before the quakes, people in need in northwestern Syria were already depending on aid coming through Turkey to meet their basic needs, such as food and medical supplies. While one major border crossing remains open, damage to other main roads is slowing down the speed of the operation.
Razmi Farook, Director of Asia and Humanitarian at ActionAid, said:
“Local rescue teams are also working in conditions of physical and psychological distress. Many of those working for our partner organisation are dealing with their own personal losses of family members or homes but they continue to work tirelessly to support those around them. The strength and compassion they are showing is remarkable.”
ActionAid is calling on the international community to release emergency funds to help us provide aid and rescue resources immediately.
To contact the ActionAid Press Office media-enquiries@actionaid.org or call +44 7586107955.
Spokespeople available:
- Racha Nasreddine is the Director for ActionAid in the Arab Region covering Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Tunisia. Previously, she led in the response to the Syrian crisis since 2015, neighbouring countries (Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt) and within the diaspora. She has local and international experience working across multiple sectors and countries in Middle East and North Africa region on socioeconomic development, human rights, and cultural relations. Racha speaks Arabic and English- Currently in Jordan.
- Razmi Farook is the Regional Director for Asia and Humanitarian at ActionAid. Razmi has served in the humanitarian and development sector for 20 years, working extensively on the regional and country level in the areas of disaster management, resilience, climate change, Syria crisis, the Indian Ocean tsunami and on issues related to migrant, refugees, and women. Razmi speaks English - Currently in Arusha, Tanzania.
- Sabine Abi Aad is the Regional Communication and Campaigns Lead ActionAid Arab Region. She has more than 20 years of experience in communication and advocacy, project management. She is passionate about women and youth leadership, achieving social justice and gender equality. Sabine speaks Arabic and English- Based in Beirut, Lebanon.
About ActionAid
ActionAid is a global federation that works with more than 15 million people living in more than 40 of the world's poorest countries. We want to see a just and sustainable world, in which everyone enjoys the right to a dignified life and freedom from poverty and oppression. We work for social justice and gender equality and poverty eradication
