Community Foundation of New Jersey

Response to the Earthquake in Turkey & Syria

The earthquake that rocked Turkey and Syria on Monday is a full-scale humanitarian disaster, with the death toll now exceeding 5,000.

Many fundholders have reached out seeking guidance on the most effective ways to give. Below, we share several organizations in which we have high confidence. We are available to talk with fundholders about the response at any time.

Please contact Diana or Vi on our grants team at (973) 267-5533.


Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS)

In the aftermath of the catastrophic earthquake, SAMS medical teams in northwest Syria are working around the clock and have treated at least 600 victims so far, as they work to treat many others injured and save as many lives as possible. SAMS-supported hospitals and medical facilities are overwhelmed with patients filling the hallways, creating an immediate need for trauma supplies. SAMS supports at least 36 medical facilities in the affected region of northwest Syria as well as a regional office in Gaziantep, Turkey, near the epicenter of the first quake.

Learn more.


Save the Children

Save the Children’s teams are on the ground in the region and ready to respond. Homes, buildings and essential infrastructure have been destroyed and children will need urgent support to access food, shelter and warm clothing. In any crisis, we know that children are always the most at risk. The Children’s Emergency Fund responds to crises around the world, whether from conflict, climate change or natural disaster.

Learn more.


Doctors Without Borders

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams working in northwestern Syria have mobilized with local partners to respond to the increasing needs in the area. MSF provided immediate support to 23 health facilities across Idlib and Aleppo governorates by donating emergency medical kits and supporting them with medical staff to reinforce their teams. MSF teams have donated blankets and essential life kits to displaced people in the region.

Learn more.


American Friends of Magen David Adom

American Friends of Magen David Adom’s Earthquake Relief Fund is raising money for essential supplies to provide relief for people and families affected by the earthquake centered in Turkey. Funds are designated first and foremost for the communities in Turkey most impacted by the quake. Funds could also potentially be used in Israel in the weeks ahead should the region’s seismic activity radiate down the Dead Sea fault and directly affect communities in Israel, which was only tangentially impacted by the first tremor.

Learn more.


Project Hope

Project HOPE is responding to this emergency and has deployed emergency response teams to affected areas. They have staff on the ground with additional teams en route as they continue coordinating with partners to respond to the most urgent needs.

Learn more.


Turkish Philanthropy Funds

The Turkiye Earthquake Relief Fund will provide immediate relief to survivors in the form of food, shelter, water, and medicine. In addition, it will provide longer-term assistance to help residents recover and rebuild. Your contributions will go to TPF-vetted nonprofits at Afet Platformu, which are directly involved in Kahramanmaras and its neighboring towns to help victims recover from the devastating effects of the earthquake and rebuilding efforts.

Learn more.


Our grants team is here to help

To talk through giving options related to this disaster, please contact our grants team. We are working with fundholders to identify the best, most targeted giving opportunities.

Diana Van Ness, Senior Grants Administration
(973) 267-5533, ext. 3021

Viridiana Solis Roman, Grants Administrator
(973) 267-5533, ext. 3012

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