Tzu Chi Providing Relief to 36,000 Families in Türkiye Earthquake Areas

Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation (BTCF) is currently providing relief, including cash value cards for BİM stores, ecoblankets, and eco-scarves made from 100% recycled PET bottles, to 36,314 families from the regions hardest hit by the February 6, 2023 earthquake in Türkiye. Distributions are ongoing or planned in three affected provinces, including 20,352 households in Hatay Province, 13,679 households in Gaziantep Province, and 1,200 households in Kilis Province. BTCF has already (up to March 5) held seven distributions benefiting 1,083 families (6,302 individuals) who had escaped the affected areas to Istanbul, one distribution in Reyhanlı, Hatay Province, benefiting 352 households (1,552 individuals), six distributions in Sahinbey, Gaziantep, benefiting 2,920 families (14,513 individuals), and one distribution in Nurdağı, Gaziantep, benefiting 430 families (1,559 individuals).

The recipients were selected through a thorough needs assessment that enables BTCF to target the most vulnerable populations, including women and children, elderly, people with disabilities, and people with severely damaged homes.

The foundation has also donated 13,083 blankets to earthquake survivors through the Turkish government. Furthermore, with the help of Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization and United Nations OCHA, Tzu Chi Jordan is sending 426,800 clothing items and 50,000 blankets to earthquake survivors in Syria.

In parallel with the disaster assessment and relief distribution on the ground in Türkiye, over 400,000 BTCF volunteers in 45 countries around the world are engaging in fundraising activities, gathering funds, materials, and love for the earthquake survivors in this time of urgent need.

The Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation is a global non-profit humanitarian organization founded in 1966 by Buddhist nun Dharma Master Cheng Yen. Its missions of medicine, charity, education, and humanistic culture have brought relief to 128 countries. The heart of Tzu Chi is embedded in its name: in Chinese, “Tzu” means compassion and “Chi” relief, to relieve the suffering of those in need while creating a better world for all through compassion, love and hope. For more information, visit tzuchi.us.

For additional information and media inquiries, please write to Johan Alwall, Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, johan.alwall@us.tzuchi.org.