Arab world shows unprecedented solidarity with quake-hit Türkiye

By Ibrahim Al-Khazen

ANKARA (AA) - Since the devastating twin earthquakes that killed thousands of people in Turkey and Syria last month, the Arab world has provided great support and assistance to the victims of the earthquake disaster.

The 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes killed more than 46,100 people and affected more than 13 million people in 11 provinces, including Adana, Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaras, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye, Sanliurfa, and Elazig.

According to the UN, the quakes also killed around 6,000 people in neighboring Syria.

Following the earthquakes, several Arab countries launched airlifts and donation campaigns to help victims in both Türkiye and Syria.

-Qatar

The Qataris launched the "Oun w Sanad" (Support and Relief) campaign, which raised some 168 million Qatari riyals ($46 million) on the first day, including $14 million from Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

The Qatar Red Crescent also allocated $1 million from its Disaster Relief Fund for emergency aid to those affected by the earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria.

It also launched a humanitarian campaign to raise $10 million in donations to expand the scope of relief efforts for earthquake victims in the two countries.

Qatar Charity has also launched a campaign to raise $7.5 million in donations for the earthquake-affected countries of Türkiye and Syria.

-Saudi Arabia

After the earthquakes, King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center launched a popular fundraising campaign for the earthquake victims.

More than two million people participated in the campaign and raised more than 474 million riyals ($126.4 million) for the earthquake victims.

-UAE

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) launched the Bridges of Good campaign on Feb. 11 in collaboration with the Emirates Red Crescent Authority and humanitarian and charitable organizations.

Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, president of the Supreme Council for Maternity and Childhood, also ordered the allocation of 50 million dirhams ($13.6 million) to support the campaign.
Shamsheer Vayalil, chairman of Burjeel Holdings, also donated 5 million dirhams (about $1.3 million) to earthquake victims.

Al Ansari Exchange, a leading foreign exchange trading company, also announced a donation of 3.67 million dirhams ($1 million) to support relief efforts for victims of the deadly earthquakes.
The International Charity Organization (ICO) also donated 2 million dirhams (about $544,000) to the victims.

On February 11, Mubadala Investment Company announced that it was donating the proceeds from tickets to the final and semifinals of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open women's tennis tournament to the Bridges of Good campaign.

The Global Village in Dubai also donated 15% of the proceeds earned from tickets of a worldwide concert on Feb. 19.

-Kuwait

On February 11, several ministries in the Gulf state, including the Ministry of Social Affairs, launched a one-day fundraising campaign to support those affected by the earthquake disaster.
The campaign raised more than 20.7 million dinars ($67.7 million), with more than 129,000 donors participating.

-Bahrain

Bahrainis launched the Solidarity Day campaign on Feb. 17 to support relief efforts for earthquake victims in Türkiye and Syria. The campaign is still ongoing.
Bahrainis also handed over donations in kind to the Turkish Embassy in Manama to be given to the earthquake victims.

-Oman

Oman's Dar Al Atta'a Association launched a month-long campaign on Feb. 7 to raise funds for earthquake victims in Türkiye and Syria.

-Yemen

Yemeni activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Tawakkol Karman announced Feb. 13 her donation for the reconstruction of 50 housing units, which will be handed over to Türkiye's Office of Disaster and Emergency Management (AFAD) upon completion.

-Lebanon

Activists initiated various campaigns on social media platforms that led to the delivery of relief supplies to earthquake victims, including 15 aid trucks to Syria.

-Palestine

Palestinians launched the "Help Them" campaign sponsored by the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs on February 9, which raised 8 million shekels (about $2 million).

On February 16, the Palestinians also launched the "One Body" campaign to collect relief supplies and gifts for affected children in Türkiye and Syria. The campaign was sponsored by the Hope Institute for Orphans Association in the Gaza Strip.

The Hebron Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the occupied West Bank also launched a fundraising campaign for earthquake victims in Türkiye and Syria.

-Iraq

Iraqi authorities have sent 56 trucks of humanitarian aid to earthquake-hit Türkiye, according to Mahmut Akgun Tiryaki, the representative of the Turkish Red Crescent in Iraq.

-Algeria

The El Baraka Association For Charitable and Humanitarian Work launched a relief initiative called The Brotherhood Campaign just hours after the earthquakes.
Another campaign was initiated by the Algerian Relief Authority to raise funds for earthquake victims in Türkiye and Syria.

-Mauritania

A fundraising campaign in Mauritania raised about $14,000 for victims of last month's deadly earthquakes.

-Tunisia

Prominent Tunisian singer Lotfi Bouchnak gave a benefit concert for earthquake victims in Türkiye and Syria.
Several fundraisers were also held in the North African country by various institutions for the victims of the earthquake disaster in the two countries.

-Djibouti

Djibouti has provided humanitarian aid to earthquake-hit Türkiye, according to Turkish Ambassador Cenk Uraz.

-Somalia

Somali parliamentarians donated 20% of their salaries to earthquake victims.

-Arab communities

Prayers were also held in several Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Palestine, Yemen, Jordan, Libya, Lebanon, and Sudan, for the victims of last month's deadly earthquakes.

Arab communities in Türkiye also rushed to show their support for the earthquake victims.

A day after the earthquakes, more than 50 leaders of Arab communities, associations, and institutions in Türkiye issued a statement expressing their full solidarity with the Turkish people.

The statement called on all Arab communities and institutions to "provide all kinds of financial and material support to the official authorities and organizations and organize relief convoys."

Signatories included the Federation of Arab Communities, the Yemeni Community, the Federation of Egyptian Associations in Türkiye, the Union of Iraqi Students, the Palestinian Workers' Federation in Türkiye, the Algerian Community Forum, the Somali Economic Council in Türkiye and the Syrian Community.

Arab institutions, including the Libyan Women's Union, the Egyptian Turkish House, and the Arab Medical Union, also organized a blood drive for the victims of the quake in Taksim, Istanbul.

The Syrian Forum provided $1 million worth of aid to earthquake victims in Türkiye and Syria.
The Syrian Nur Association also launched volunteer campaigns and contributed to the support of displaced families arriving in Istanbul after the earthquakes.

The Iraqi Al Maarifa International Schools in the city of Mersin in southern Türkiye joined the relief efforts by hosting students from the earthquake-affected cities so they could complete their second semester free of charge.

The Iraqi community in Türkiye also participated in the relief and fundraising efforts for the earthquake victims.

The Palestinian community launched the "Palestine with You" campaign, which included 10 relief shipments. It also organized campaigns to collect blood, material, and in-kind donations.

Egyptian organizations and institutions, including the Egyptian Associations Union in Türkiye, Al-Sharif Academy, Diwan al-Khair Association, and the Union of Egyptian Students in Türkiye, organized relief and donation campaigns for earthquake victims.

Yemenis in Türkiye also collected 17 million Turkish liras (about $900,000), organized a 10-truck relief convoy, and participated in volunteer activities.

The Maghreb Foundation, an association founded by young Moroccans for emigrants in Türkiye, launched a relief campaign that collected more than one million Turkish liras (about $53,000).

The Mauritanian Community Association in Türkiye, the Chinguetti Lighthouse International Association, and the Tuerkiye Alumni Association also collected $60,000 in donations for earthquake victims.

The Algerian Forum launched the "One Body" fundraising campaign to benefit earthquake victims.

*Ikram Imane Kouachi contributed to this report.