Syria and Turkey were shaken by an earthquake that reached 7.8 on the Richter scale last Monday, February 6.
According to the latest data, the number of victims is already more than 5,000. The Marist NGO, SED, has expressed all possible support and has provided various channels to help.
The support is given in both countries, with special attention to Aleppo where SED has worked in recent years through collaboration with the Blue Marists; with whom, moreover, a new emergency action has been initiated.
In addition to the whole emergency situation, the economic blockade imposed by the West does not facilitate the reception of humanitarian aid, and it is for this reason that through Maristas Azules, SED intends to channel aid from Spain to attend to this new emergency.
Marist Brother Georges Sabe, a reference in Aleppo, confirms first hand to SED that the situation on the ground is dramatic: “In the street we see how terrible the situation is. Balconies fallen, buildings on the ground and people fleeing in fear of aftershocks. It is the first time as a Marist in Aleppo that I feel I cannot breathe.”
The Marist organization is overwhelmed, Georges confirms, taking care of all the people they are able to receive, but with insufficient means: “We open our hearts and our house, we cannot stay with our arms folded. We have turned on the generator and we are giving sandwiches, warmth and coziness to the people who are arriving. We are already more than 1000, but we have not reached the 250 blankets, we have given one for each family and they have shared them, sleeping as they could in the halls, classrooms and rooms we have”.
While funds were recently sent from SED for the Maristas Azules project, emergency aid has been approved to address the humanitarian crisis. Immediate help is essential to save lives, especially in a context where extreme cold and scarce resources make rescue efforts difficult.
SED is asking for all possible collaboration in order to continue facilitating the task on the ground. The funds and donations should be directed to the following ways:
IBAN SED: ES05 0075 7007 85 0600820091
BIZUM: 38328
In all cases please specify in the concept of your donation: “Emergency Earthquake”.
