Türkiye and Syria Earthquake: how our actions together brought hope, help, food and shelter to thousands 

MSC Foundation and MSC Group individual and joint efforts mobilise CHF 3,348,348 to provide transformative emergency relief and rebuilding support for distraught earthquake survivors 

Focus areas: Emergency Relief

The communities impacted by the catastrophic earthquake that struck Türkiye and Syria in February were met with an outpouring of empathy, solidarity and generosity from our friends, supporters, donors, colleagues and partners that has transformed countless lives.

In a collaborative effort involving 1,150 colleagues from 34 MSC offices worldwide, we embarked on a fundraising campaign to aid the survivors of this devastating earthquake. Together, we raised an astounding total of over CHF 200,000, which was distributed in full to local Red Crescent organisations in Türkiye and Syria to meet both immediate and post-emergency needs in the most severely affected areas. This included supplying medication to clinics in Syria’s earthquake-affected areas and providing direct financial assistance for individuals in desperate need.

The generosity of our donors has made a lasting impact on the lives of those affected by this tragedy. But our assistance wasn’t restricted to financial support. Indeed, the immediate commitment of the MSC Group enabled us to launch comprehensive emergency relief efforts within hours of the disaster and sustain them over the months to come.

On 24 February 2023, MSC Aurelia arrived in the Turkish port of Iskendrun with a CHF 100,000 cargo of essential relief items that reached more than 60,000 individuals in need. The ship itself was then converted to provide temporary emergency shelter for over 1,700 people for three months, with the MSC Group donating the entire USD 3,000,000 cost of the operation.

MSC Türkiye likewise played a vital role, swiftly setting up container housing in the port to offer a safe haven for 300 Group employees and their families who tragically lost their homes in the disaster.

In addition, we partnered with the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR, committing to provide free transportation for 100 containers of emergency aid to Türkiye and Syria. 83 containers have already been transported to date (31 to Gaziantep and 52 to Aleppo, Damascus, and Tartous), assisting over 25,200 families - a total of 126,055 individuals in dire need. The remaining 17 containers will be transported by the end of the year, bringing the total value of this support to USD 387,000.

Free transportation was likewise provided for 3 containers of humanitarian aid goods sent by the Seirs Parma Yellow Cross Association in Italy to the Syrian Arab Red Crescent in Latakia, as well as for 3 containers of emergency relief items sent from Austria to AFAD in Türkiye, collected by International Hilfe für Arme in Vienna with the support of the local Turkish Embassy. These operations valued at USD 32,000 reached 20,000 beneficiaries.

Total value of support provided to date: CHF 3,348,348

The video below shows Ms. Cristina Davies, Executive Director of Switzerland for UNHCR, commenting on the impact achieved.

These committed collective efforts show the extraordinary capacity of our global community to join together in solidarity and provide transformative support to those in need.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to each and every one of the friends, colleagues, donors and partners who made this possible. Your support has brought food, shelter and above all hope to countless lives in the wake of terrible disaster.