Dear colleagues,

The Executive Committee would like to express our sorrow and compassion for the Turkish and Syrian people who are experiencing extreme loss and suffering due to the earthquake last week. It is our hope that our Turkish and Syrian members and their families are safe and healthy. Our thoughts are with you.

This natural disaster affects a region that is already suffering from conflict, a refugee crisis, and structural disparities. We encourage our members to donate either through local organisations that they know and trust, or through one of organisations that have been recommended to us by our members. Please find the list below.

We would also invite you to reflect upon how your students and colleagues may be directly and indirectly affected and in need of support. Sadly, the magnitude of this earthquake and the people affected are continuously increasing. We are aware of the intense feelings of many of our colleagues who are connected to the earthquake region because family and friends are directly affected, or they share the same nationality. Many of them feel powerless, desperate, guilty, fearful, worried, sad, angry, and lonely. Also, young adults, given their experiences of COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine, may develop a feeling of hopelessness. They may also need guidance and support at this time.

Besides donating, taking care of our members and colleagues around us, talking about how people feel, taking some time, and showing that they are not alone, are small things we can all do to express care and support. These small things could make a big difference to someone.

Wishing you all the best,

EASP Executive Committee.

For options to make direct donations, please see: https://twitter.com/merrvesaahin/status/1624345964474408960

Many large disaster relief organisations, such as Red Cross, Doctors without Borders, UNHCR, Word Food programme etc. within their national chapters/countries have set up their own relief funds. Please look up your respective donation route by googling your organisation of choice.

AKUT: https://www.akut.org.tr/en/donation. NGO specialising in search and rescue operations in Turkey.

Ahbap: https://bagis.ahbap.org/bagis. Ahbap is one of the most active and well-organised non-profits in Turkey, currently providing significant support in rescue efforts. Please note that the website is in Turkish and does not accept debit cards.

Earthquake Relief for Türkiye: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/earthquake-relief-for-trkiye. Campaign is organised by a group of employees of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) via Crowdfunder. All donations will be matched with by EBRD and go to three different civic initiatives on the ground.

Turkish Philanthropy Funds: https://donate.tpfund.org/campaign/tpf-turkiye-earthquake/c465112. This is a US community foundation for social investments dedicated to Turkey. Their link is especially for earthquake donations.

OXFAM: https://www.oxfam.org.uk/oxfam-in-action/current-emergencies/turkey-and-syria-earthquake-appeal/. This is a British-founded confederation of 21 independent charitable organisations focusing on the alleviation of global poverty.

People in the UK can also donate to the DEC: https://www.dec.org.uk and the government is matching donations.

Turkey Mozaik Foundation: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/kahramanmarasearthquake?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=one_page&utm_content=campaign/kahramanmarasearthquake&utm_campaign=pfp-tweet&utm_term=0bd4655cc20d4cc68821de114716247f. This is a UK-based NGO supporting civil organisations in Turkey by serving as a bridge between donors and grassroots. The fundings go via UK-based fundraising activities.

White Helmets: https://www.whitehelmets.org/en/. Humanitarian volunteers involved in the search and rescue effort in Syria.

Turkiye Earthquake Donations: https://earthquaketurkey.notion.site/Turkiye-Earthquake-Donations-330ba83b6a93442b92fd46a414a928db. Recommendations for local organisations in Turkey who are accepting donations.

Turkey Syria Earthquake: https://linktr.ee/turkeysyriaearthquake?fbclid=IwAR3RIToZfBGj43T27OAlFL6MRRQQZ6G4wimtXLPM42s3_O_2Atbqx4nrJw8. List of aid and emergency resources in Turkey and Syria.

We are grateful to Hakan Çakmak, Burak Cayir, and the Turkish Psychologists Association for their recommendations.