ERGO Network is working with our member Zero Discrimination Association to support Roma victims of the earthquake
Two earthquakes of 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude hit Türkiye and Syria on 6 February 2023. With an epicentre in Kahramanmaraş, the earthquake caused catastrophic scale of mass destruction in 10 provinces in Türkiye including Hatay, Adıyaman, Malatya, Şanlıurfa, Adana, Gaziantep and Diyarbakır.
In this deadliest earthquake of the century, more than 42 thousand 310 people lost their lives, 80.000 people were injured and over 2 million were internally displaced. Many of the survivors are fleeing the region to other cities as soon as they can bury their loved ones. Numbers are predicted to increase.
Roma, Dom, and Abdal Communities cannot access help
The affected provinces are home to numerous vulnerable groups including the Roma communities (Doms and Abdals). As a result of social exclusion, they cannot access aid mechanisms efficiently.
There is no official census for Roma in Turkey, so the exact number of affected Roma communities in the disaster area cannot be detected. Based on the reports of Roma grassroots organizations in our working neighbourhoods, 50.000-60.000 Roma are estimated to be affected in Hatay, Gaziantep and Şanlıurfa. Moreover, there are approximately 300.000 Roma people all around the 10 affected provinces.
How can you help?
ERGO Network Member Organisation Zero Discrimination Association in Turkey is in constant communication with their network members there and tries to help them access some help.
Since the earthquake’s first day, the network has delivered food, tents and fuel to the regions of Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, Hatay and Adana.
You can donate here using your credit or debit card or PayPal. Every small donation can change people’s lives today.
The urgent needs currently are:
1. Food and water
2. Tents
3. Heating systems for the tents, pocket warmers
4. Medicine
5. Female sanitary pad
6. Blankets, sleeping bags
7. Winter Clothes (Boots, coats, gloves, hats and socks)
8. Synthetic underwear (baby/child)
9. Powerbank for phones
10. Diapers and baby food
The ERGO Network and its members will collect and coordinate disaster relief and our member Zero Discrimination Association will be implementing the aid in the region.
Here you can find more information about the affected regions and the detailed needs in each of them.
Below are the images taken by our colleagues in Zero Discrimination Association and their network.
