11k DEAD IN TURKEY & SYRIA FROM APOCALYPTIC EARTHQUAKES - Donate now!

Image Credit: The New York Times

Turkey (a.k.a. Turkiye), my family's home country, has been devastated in the past few days by a historic 7.8 magnitude Earthquake - that is 32 times the destructive power of the atom bomb dropped on Hiroshima - with a 7.5 magnitude aftershock the morning after and multiple tremors. The death toll is 11,000 people across Turkey and Syria and is expected to rise to around 20,000 dead. Hundreds of thousands of people (over 190,000) remain trapped under rubble of apartment buildings turned to dust in seconds. All this in the middle of winter snowstorms, forcing families to sleep outdoors while their loved ones, including infants, may still be missing or dead. My relatives were among the lucky ones, but so many others were not. 

I have hosted a public fundraiser page with a goal of $500, to the Bridge to Turkiye fund, which is assisting with food, shelter, water, and warmth:  https://secure.givelively.org/donate/bridge-to-turkiye/kahramanmaras-earthquake-relief-fund/arca-baran

Every dollar and second counts for the people devastated by the earthquakes. Please share with everyone you can!

You can learn more about what has happened and ways to help organizations involved with rescue and recovery: https://www.thecut.com/2023/02/how-to-help-the-people-of-turkey-and-syria.html 

Live coverage of the earthquakes: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/02/05/world/turkey-earthquake

Clips from the earthquakes - real "hell on Earth": 

No words.. I can’t … this is hell #Turkey #earthquake pic.twitter.com/B6xn1g6r5y

— Abier (@abierkhatib) February 6, 2023

Sarah Abushaar on Twitter: "Young Syrian girl shields her brother beneath the rubble of their destroyed home, trapped under heavy concrete for 17 hours. The destruction of human life is unfathomable. “I beg you to get me out.I’ll do whatever you want. I’ll even be your servant.”💔#TurkeySyriaEarthquake https://t.co/JH31Lssbnd" / Twitter 

KC on Twitter: "The level of destruction caused by the earthquake in Turkey makes it look like a war zone. This is utterly heartbreaking. Pray for Turkey and especially for the people trapped under the rubble. https://t.co/PeqPXoNKlF" / Twitter

Al Jazeera English on Twitter: "This TV crew was broadcasting live when a second magnitude 7.5 earthquake hit Turkey ⤵️ https://t.co/XM5VVH7Qrl" / Twitter

"A magnitude 7.8 quake that struck Turkey in the early morning was followed hours later by a powerful aftershock. Rescuers are digging through thousands of flattened buildings in near-freezing temperatures. Death toll is expected to rise to 20 thousands with ~3000 confirmed dead so far. Hundreds of aftershocks, including an unusually strong 7.5 magnitude tremor, struck Turkey in the aftermath, the U.S.G.S. said. The series of shocks was the deadliest to hit the country in more than 20 years."