Turkey-Syria earthquake: AMA provides tents for survivors left to sleep outdoors in freezing conditions

The 7.8 magnitude earthquake which struck Turkey and Syria in the middle of the night on Monday has shattered the lives of millions. 

As the world woke up to images and videos of tall buildings crumbling in a matter of minutes, people on the ground scrambled to find safety and find the whereabouts of their loved ones.

Over 23 million people have been affected by the quake, and the death toll has climbed to above 20,000 people. 

Entire regions have been flattened, in what many have described as apocalyptic scenes. Aid experts on the ground have continued to warn against survivors being at risk of death from hypothermia due to the freezing conditions. 

Those who have made it out of the buildings alive have been rendered homeless, and have been forced to wait outside for hours, for a glimmer of hope and news about their family and friends. 

No protection against the cold

As well as providing blankets and food items for those on the ground, AMA has been working hard to provide tents for people. 

With no defense against the harsh winds and biting cold, tents are essential to offer some protection and a place for people to sleep amidst the devastating conditions. 

The humanitarian disaster has forced many people to seek shelter in mosques, partially collapsed buildings and schools, which are unsafe as aftershocks continue to shake the region. 

Many have also been left to sleep in open fields and gardens, as they stumble through rubble to look for people they know.

With no place to cook or source food, AMA is ensuring we provide non-perishable and packaged breakfast food items to help keep people sustained. The food aid package contains items such as tea,  chocolate, cheese, olives, bread, milk and jam, amongst other items.

Locals have described the situation as dire, with body bags lining the streets between fragments of buildings.

There is an urgent need for emergency aid, in the form of tents, food and blankets, as aid organisations continue to assess the damage and the needs of people on the ground. 

AMA’s CEO Imraan Choonara has called on people to mobilise during this time of need and come together to help the victims of the earthquake.

“Even if you can’t be there yourself, you can be there in the form of your prayers and donations,” he said in a video message, shared online. 

As the death toll continues to rise day by day as bodies are pulled out from under the rubble, donations will go a long way in helping survivors and those affected by the earthquake. 

Donations can be made online and by calling AMA offices.

Feature image: Six-year-old Musa Hmeidi, a Syrian child, was pulled out alive from under the rubble of a collapsed building (AFP/Bakr Alkasem)