Dear Supporter, My name is Hanim and I’m writing to you today with a heavy heart. As a Turkish-Australian, and as a member of the Australia for UNHCR team, I was absolutely devastated when I heard that two earthquakes had hit south-eastern Türkiye. I contacted my family straight away. I’m lucky – they’re all okay. But they’re still experiencing a lot of aftershocks. It’s not safe in the quake zone. In surrounding areas, people are afraid to enter their homes. Many are going back to their traditional villages to seek shelter with their families, but it’s freezing at the moment. I remember how extreme the winters were when I lived in Türkiye. It was very difficult then; it would be impossible if you’ve just lost everything you own.
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UNHCR is on the ground providing assistance as I write. Our teams are delivering tents, mattresses, thermal blankets and other supplies to earthquake survivors, both in Türkiye and across the border in Syria. Türkiye hosts the most refugees in the world. They have opened their arms to Syrians fleeing war. Now, in the wake of this disaster, they urgently need our support.
Supporter, I talk to supporters like you every day as part of my job with Australia for UNHCR. Everyone has been really moved by what’s happening in Türkiye. The support so far has been uplifting, but there’s still a long way to go. Thank you for digging deep for the people of Türkiye and Syria. Yours sincerely,
