
Devastating earthquakes have hit Turkey and Syria, killing thousands of people and reducing buildings
to rubble. People need urgent aid to survive. Donate now to help save lives.
Collection this Sunday at St Marys’ Church
As a Church Community, we are committed to holding a collection for appeals by the Disasters Emergency Committee on the Sunday following the launch of an appeal. There is information below about other methods of giving. With thanks. Pauline (Chair, Pastoral Care & Social Justice Committee)
Please click here for more information about the DEC Turkey/Syria Appeal
A series of devastating earthquakes have hit southern Turkey (now known as Türkiye) and north-west Syria killing over 11,000 people and injuring many more.
The first deadly earthquake struck while people were inside their homes, asleep in their beds, with no warning signs. Thousands of buildings, including hospitals and schools, have collapsed and infrastructure has been badly damaged. Local responders are desperately searching through the rubble for survivors.
People have been left without shelter in freezing winter conditions and desperately need blankets, emergency shelter, food and clean water.
DEC charities and their local partners are among the first responders providing urgent help. Immediate priorities are search and rescue, medical treatment for the injured, shelter for those who have lost their homes, heating in safe spaces, blankets, warm clothes, and ensuring people have food and clean water.
How you can help
You can help people affected by the crisis by making a donation and helping to raise money for the DEC appeal. This will allow DEC charities and their local partners to scale up their response and reach more people.
• £10 could provide blankets to keep two people warm
• £25 could provide emergency food for a family for ten days
• £50 could provide emergency shelter for two families
SAVE LIVES Help earthquake survivors get urgent aid
The charity, Tearfund, is offering support for prayer for the people of Turkey-Syria:
Here are three areas we can focus our prayers on: for the emergency response; for people affected by the earthquake; for the church in Syria who are responding; and for peace.
Pray for the emergency response
• Lift up first-responders and pray for energy and strength as they work around the clock to save lives.
• Pray for clear roads and bridges, so that emergency services and supplies can quickly reach those in need.
• Pray that those who are still missing will be found safe.
• Ask God for good weather so the rains and snow do not slow down the response.
• Hospitals in the areas affected are overflowing. In Syria, many hospitals have not been rebuilt since they were destroyed in the conflict there. Pray for resilience for health workers as they respond; pray for capacity to treat people who are injured and for resources – medicine, equipment and hospital beds – to be readily available.
Pray for people affected by the earthquake
• Pray for comfort for those who have lost their loved ones and healing for people who are injured. Ask God to draw near to them in this time of grief and uncertainty.
• Pray for provision of safe shelter, food, clean water and warmth for people who have lost their belongings, homes and livelihoods. Ask God to give them courage and strength to face these new challenges.
• Pray that vulnerable people – such as people with disabilities, orphans and pregnant and nursing mothers – will be protected and that no one will have to suffer alone.
• Pray for freedom from anxiety and fear for people who are feeling distressed – particularly those already in fragile situations throughout the region.
Pray for peace
• Conflict broke out in Syria in 2011. Much of the country now lies in ruin. The city of Aleppo, which was badly hit by the earthquake, is home to millions of people who have already faced devastating conflict. Many people in northern Iraq, who are rebuilding after years of conflict, and in Lebanon, also felt the earthquake tremors.
Pray for a lasting peace and recovery for Syrians who have suffered more than a decade of conflict.
Pray for peace and comfort as people are further traumatised by the earthquake and already are feeling anxious, depressed and fearful. Pray that people will not lose hope – even in these challenging times.
Please click here for more information and prayers on the Tearfund website