Active International recently donated to the Disaster Emergency Committee in response to the recent earthquake that devastated parts of Syria and Turkey.
Initially, we had planned to donate to a local women’s charity to support International Women’s Day in March. However, the destruction caused by the earthquake compelled us to direct our efforts further afield, towards helping those affected in Türkiye and Syria.
Women and girls, are often disproportionately affected by natural disasters, and were particularly vulnerable in the regions impacted by the earthquake. Many were already living in vulnerable situations, having fled their homes in Syria and relying on humanitarian assistance.
To raise funds for the cause, we committed to donating 5% of the total amount from sales and bookings made in March on our Active Friends and Family site.
By supporting the Disaster Emergency Committee, we hope we have made a humble but meaningful impact and helped those affected by this tragedy.
Key Statistics
• The UN World Food Programme is delivering food assistance and has reached almost 1.7 million people in Syria and Turkey.
• It is estimated nearly 350,000 pregnant women were affected by the earthquake
• The World Health Organization has sent health supplies to reach 400,000 people impacted by the earthquake, and warns that health services need to be restored rapidly to avoid a secondary disaster that may harm many more.
• The UN Development Programme is supporting the removal of rubble, clearing the way to deliver vital supplies and help restore livelihoods and revive small businesses.
• The estimated area of debris is equivalent to an area 10 km by 10 km – equivalent to 14,000 soccer fields covered in debris piled one meter high.
• The UN has released $50 million from its Central Emergency Response Fund to jumpstart the response and launched a $1 billion flash appeal to provide life-saving assistance to 5.2 million people in Turkey through April.
•The UN issued a flash appeal for $397 million for the people of earthquake-ravaged Syria to cover a period of 3 months.
REFERENCE ARTICLES
The Risks to Girls from Violence and Exploitation Following the Earthquake in Turkey and Syria
The Syria-Turkey Earthquake Has Worsened An Invisible Crisis For Women
Women and girls are highly vulnerable after Turkey-Syria earthquake destroys their livelihood
