Christian Relief Services Providing Aid and Comfort to Türkiye’s Earthquake Survivors in Time of Most Urgent Need

At Christian Relief Services, we strive every day to live up to our founding motto as “A Gentle Voice for Good,” not only in our own backyard, or even just throughout just the United States, but around the world.

For decades, we have worked to raise the standard of living in other countries, from Haiti to Eastern Europe, sub-Saharan Africa, and more recently in India and Ukraine, where we provided support to refugees fleeing the brutal war.

Today, we are reaching out through our partner, the Our AIM Foundation (OAF), by providing earthquake relief funding for Türkiye children, parents and grandparents – survivors of the devasting tragedy that as of February 26 has claimed the lives of more than 50,000 souls.

The hundreds of thousands who are lucky to have escaped death, have nothing else but their lives – no home or shelter, no food, no safe water – nothing but the clothes on their backs, ineffective in keeping out the brutal cold.

“Thousands of children lost their parents and guardians,” noted OAF international program manager Sabrina Vatanshoeva in her request to Christian Relief Services for emergency aid assistance for Türkiye earthquake survivors. “They are now orphans and currently homeless, grappling with the crisis in harsh winter, enduring freezing temperatures without shelter, warm food, blankets, winter clothes and other survival necessities.”

Monitoring closely the devastating consequences of the 7.7 magnitude earthquakes that struck Türkiye, OAF has decided to mobilize volunteers on the ground for emergency relief and response and provide emergency kits.

“The victims who are rescued are dying on the ground due to cold weather and no shelter,” she told us.

In addition, with an unfathomable number of deaths, the rescue team and the Türkiye government are facing immense challenges in safely disposing of the bodies.

“The need for body bags is still huge as per the General Consulate of the Türkiye Embassy in Miami, Florida reports,” said Sabrina, who noted OAF is collaborating with for this relief response.

OAF, with a collaboration of partners including Christian Relief Services, has already provided support to more than 15,000 individuals with tents, food, and sadly, body bags.

Specifically, OAF relief operations to date include the distribution of more than 10,000 bottles of water, milk, sugar, hundreds of bags of rice and flour, baby food, diapers and other essential items shipped by the truckload to Kahramanmaraş. Additionally, more than 3,000 body bags have been donated to the Türkiye Consulate in Miami and shipped on flights by Turkish Airlines. Other essential items shipped so far include tents and shelters, medications and warm clothes.

“However, the need in supporting the survivors is still huge,” she noted. “OAF has mobilized volunteer groups both in the U.S. and on the ground for emergency relief response.”

Incorporated in 1985, the mission of Christian Relief Services is to work through partnerships and in collaboration with grassroots charitable groups, churches and human services agencies, to connect the vast resources of America to help those in need in their own local communities and to enable people to help themselves.

And in Türkiye today, with your help we are doing just that through our partnership with OAF to provide those with nothing but their lives the ability to live.