The news of the sudden Türkiye-Syria earthquake came as a shock to the world; this widespread catastrophe from the 7.8 magnitude tremor shattered the lives of many. Countless rescue efforts dispatched from all across the globe are racing against time to save victims trapped beneath the razed buildings, suffocated by the dust and rubble of concrete wreckages.

To help ease those affected by the aftershock, MERCY Humanitarian UK (MHUK) joined hands in fundraising to alleviate the casualties of the large-scale quake. All donations are for the allotment of winter necessities and the support of MERCY Malaysia Medical response team deployed to the quake areas.

MERCY Malaysia has deployed several expert members of staff and volunteers to support relief efforts in the south-eastern parts of Turkiye hit by the 7.8 magnitude deadly quake.

The first team of 7 arrived in Adana province on Thursday (9 February 2023) and went straight to rapid assessment and distribution of blankets and socks to the beneficiaries to keep them warm during the cold winter season.

The main objective of this first deployment is to conduct a rapid assessment and identify immediate response activities for subsequent teams’ deployment.

As an organisation that focuses on providing full spectrum of humanitarian services, MERCY Malaysia will continue to offer support from emergency response to rehabilitation and recovery, mitigation and prevention and disaster preparedness.

On 17 February 2023, MERCY Malaysia deployed 3.8 tonnes of relief items including medicines, oxygen cylinders, oxygen concentrators, BP monitors, non-invasive ventilators, thermal blankets and sleeping bags for Turkiye.

MERCY Malaysia also deployed a 4.8 tonne of urgent relief items like generator sets, medicines, thermal blankets, sleeping bags and ready-to-eat meals to Syria.

Our colleague, Dzulqarnain Adzmi, is headed for Damsyik (Damascus) as part of the Earthquake Humanitarian Mission to Syria, facilitated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia.