Dear Friends, 

In the early, bitterly cold hours of this morning, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck outside of Gaziantep, Turkey followed by a 7.7 quake in the afternoon. Thousands have been reported dead and injured, and we expect those numbers to climb as rescue teams are racing against cold temperatures to save people who are trapped under rubble. This natural disaster heaps more destruction on cities and communities already devastated by over a decade of war.

I have been in Turkey since last week to meet with our staff and partner organizations on the ground. I feel personally grateful to have left the quake zone just a few days ago, but this tragedy has impacted everyone: our colleagues, our partners, and the communities we serve. We still do not know the full extent of the damage, as tremors continue to reverberate throughout Syria and Turkey. 

Nobody deserves this tragedy, but displaced Syrians have already experienced more than a lifetime's worth of loss. As I coordinate MFA's response on the ground in Turkey, I humbly ask that you consider supporting MFA's delivery of emergency aid to earthquake victims.

Sincerely, 

Shadi Martini
CEO of Multifaith Alliance

^{A young earthquake survivor has her injuries assessed with a CT scanner provided by MFA}

^{Collapsed buildings show the extent of the earthquake damage}