INITIATIVE: DISASTER RELIEF
Epek Help for those Affected by the Devastating Earthquake in Turkey
Among the many affected by this tragic natural disaster, Afghans who had fled to Turkey for refuge were living in tent cities in areas hardest hit by the earthquake. We are heartbroken over the loss of life, the emotional agony, and widespread suffering.
WE STAND WITH AFGHANS, SYRIANS, AND OTHER REFUGEES WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED
Our experience prepares us to help in the aftermath of disaster.
Epek International staff and board members represent over 100 years of collective experience serving in disaster and crisis situations. The earthquake in Turkey has left tens of thousands of people dead, displaced, scared, lost, hungry, and grieving. We have seen images that are haunting, and many organizations and people have reached out to us to see how we—and they—can help, including a large nonprofit association with locations in 8 of the 10 cities at the epicenter.
Our board is compelled to leverage our experience and commitment to reach those in need. While our primary focus as an organization is serving Afghans, this opportunity also includes Syrians, Turks, and other refugee communities who were living in tent cities where the earthquake struck.
Our Executive Director will be on the ground to begin work alongside our partners and friends to coordinate care and distribution of vital help. We will be working with locally-registered organizations, the Red Cross, and others we identify as we go forward. These are Afghans, Iranians, and Turkish-established partnerships.
SPECIFICS OF WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED:
The support and gifts of partners and individuals (THANK YOU!) enabled us to meet urgent physical needs, including:
Cooked food
Canned food
Baby formula and food for small children
Blankets, gloves, coats, hats
Tube catalytic stoves
Cots
Power banks
Feminine hygiene and general hygiene kits