As we mark the one-year anniversary of the massive earthquake in Turkey and Syria, my heart goes out to the victims and their families who have shown remarkable strength in the face of adversity. Our thoughts and prayers are with you as you continue to rebuild and recover.
I want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone involved in the emergency response efforts. The outpouring of support from communities, organizations, and individuals has been nothing short of inspiring. Together, we’ve demonstrated the true meaning of unity and compassion.
At Islamic Relief Canada, our community rallied in an incredible way. I am immensely proud of the tireless efforts of our team who worked day and night to secure funding and support. It’s a testament to the power of collective action when driven by empathy and a shared commitment to make a difference.
I cannot forget the hundreds of phone calls and meetings I’ve had with different stakeholders, particularly with the Turkish diplomats, community mobilizers, and our GIK partners. These collaborations were instrumental in facilitating the dispatch of two important shipments one comprising emergency medical kits generously offered by Health Partners International Canada (HPIC) and the other containing emergency relief supplies provided by Collaboration Santé Internationale both have been shipped for free with Turkish Airlines and have been received by AFAD and the health authorities in Turkiye.
With your ongoing support, we have provided emergency aid to 58,300 rights-holders across Turkiye in Adıyaman, Kahramanmaraş, Hatay, Şanlıurfa, Adiyaman, and Kilis, and 414,000 rights-holders in Idlib and Aleppo, Syria as part of our Phase 1: Emergency Relief.
In addition, Islamic Relief expanded its orphan sponsorship program, helping care for more than 4,000 vulnerable children in Turkiye and Syria.
It’s moments like these that remind us of the strength that lies within communities and the profound impact we can achieve when we come together. The journey to recovery is ongoing, and our commitment to supporting those affected remains steadfast.
