Earthquake in Türkiye and Syria: Resources and Support

March 21, 2023

Relief and recovery efforts in both Türkiye and Syria in the aftermath of the devastating February 6, 2023 earthquake are ongoing. On February 20, another magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck the region, resulting in further destruction. As of Thursday, April 6, the earthquakes have resulted in 58,875 confirmed deaths in Türkiye and Syria. Earlier damage surveys indicated that 164,321 buildings collapsed or were heavily damaged, 2.2 million people had been evacuated from the disaster area, and 1.9 million people were living in tents or other temporary shelter. On Wednesday, 15 March, the earthquake region experienced yet another disaster when extreme rains resulted in widespread, devastating flooding. Many people continue to be in need of food, shelter, and medical assistance.

As added context, the efforts in Syria are less reported and are additionally hampered by poor access and very limited national response capability. See the New Humanitarian’s important look at the Syria side of the relief.

What Harvard is doing

Colleagues from our Harvard and Boston community, including the Harvard Teaching Hospitals (BWH, MGH, BI, BCH) and Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (HHI) continue their efforts in the response though their work with local aid organizations and international NGOs, as well as pre-deployment capacity building of international aid agencies. As a reminder, we engage with reputable local and international organization with specific areas of expertise to assist. Here is an interview summarizing some of HHI’s on-the-ground work.

Responses from the Harvard community

On the ground

  • Morgan Broccoli, MD, MPH (HHI, BWH Emergency Medicine) is in the earthquake zone now as Team Lead with Team Rubicon.
  • Erica Nelson, MD, MPH (HHI, BWH) is headed to the field with Team Rubicon.
  • Aral Surmeli (HSPH alum) runs an NGO called MEDAK in Turkiye. HHI is supporting are with pushing out just in time training and resources.

Capacity support

  • KoboToolbox is supporting the response by helping those who are doing need assessment with standardized administrative units, as well as making the Turkish and Arabic languages more assessable.
  • Building a Better Response (BBR) recently released six key modules of its free e-learning tool in Turkish. Materials are also available in Arabic. 

Remote support

  • Sean Kivlehan, MD, MPH (HHI, BWH) and Lindsey Martin (MGH) are identifying surgical support for care and training with local NGOs. Dr. Kivlehan is part of the WHO Health Cluster in Geneva, who are leveraging NW Syria cross border-cluster support.
  • HHI is working to push out training videos to support local physicians and nurses.
  • M. Furkan Burak, MD (BWH Endocrinology) is working with the Turkish MOH to obtain medical supplies through local NGOs.

Statement from President Bacow

Statements from Schools, International Centers, Departments, and Alumni

What you can do

Thank you to all of the many expressions of concern and requests to help. The most effective way to assist is to identify a reputable aid agency that has direct efforts in the region and provide financial support. Material supplies from the public, like food and clothing, are usually not helpful; supporting experienced aid agencies that are on the ground with cash is most effective. In alignment with Harvard and MGB, here is a compiled a preliminary list of organizations that can receive donations to provide emergency response services:

Other Resources

Support for Affected Students and Scholars on Campus

  • Harvard International Office: The HIO works in support of all international students and scholars at Harvard College, the graduate and professional schools, as well as those at the numerous research centers and affiliated teaching hospitals. They are best positioned to assist with questions pertaining to immigration requirements, visas, and related issues, and can help advise those who may need to make an emergency trip home because of the earthquake.
  • Harvard University Counseling and Mental Health Services (CAMHS): CAMHS is a counseling and mental health support service which seeks to work collaboratively with students, Schools, and the University to support individuals who are experiencing some measure of distress in their lives. Those who require emergency medical attention should dial 911; if you need to talk with a counselor right now about a mental health concern, call the CAHMS Cares 24/7 line at (617) 495-2042.
  • Harvard Chaplains: The Harvard Chaplains, a professional community of more than thirty chaplains, represent many of the world’s religious, spiritual, and ethical traditions, and share a collective commitment to serving the spiritual needs of the students, faculty, and staff of Harvard University.

Stay Updated

Stay updated on the latest developments and impact of the disaster by checking the following organizations:

News and Events

News: Harvard Community Efforts and Responses

Events