Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal: Older People Need Help

Following two major earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, the Disasters Emergency Committee and member agencies including Age International today launched a Turkey and Syria Earthquake Appeal to help those affected stay safe, warm and healthy.

At the time of writing, over 17,000 people have lost their lives, a number which is due to rise. Survivors urgently need medical assistance, shelter, clean water, food and protection from the cold. Homes, roads, hospitals and other vital infrastructure have been damaged.

The earthquakes struck just as winter weather began worsening in the region, with intense cold and heavy snow increasing the risk to older people, who have lost their homes and been separated from their families. The region's high number of refugees and displaced people are likely to be particularly vulnerable, following years of civil war in Syria and the already precarious humanitarian situation there.

We must act urgently to provide shelter, warmth, food, water and medical assistance suitable for older people. Please donate now and help us save lives.

Age International is working with partners in Turkey and Syria to assess what support older people affected most need from us. The situation is constantly changing but our emergency response is likely to include: providing shelter, heaters, blankets and clothing to those who have lost their homes, mental health support, and cash payments that enable older people to buy what they most need.

Older people are often forgotten in the scramble to deliver emergency relief, so Age International aim to meet the specific needs of older people with its response and calls on other humanitarian agencies to be inclusive and not take a one-size-fits-all approach. 

Alison Marshall, CEO of Age International, said:

“The scale of devastation caused by the earthquakes is difficult to comprehend. Whole communities have been destroyed and the destruction means that relief efforts are still working to pull people and bodies from collapsed buildings, so we expect the number of casualties to increase.

“Older people, in particular older women and those with disabilities and health conditions, are especially at risk. These people already face significant challenges, which will now be exacerbated by the low temperatures and perilous conditions, so access to medicine, adequate shelter and immediate support is crucial.”