In the early hours of February 6, a seismic shock reverberated through Turkey and Syria, leaving devastation in its wake. A powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake, followed by a massive 7.5-magnitude quake just six hours later, unleashed a cascade of destruction. The aftermath, compounded by continual aftershocks, has left cities leveled, over 40,000 lives lost, tens of thousands injured, and at least one million people displaced.
Instant Aid wasted no time in responding to the crisis. Swiftly arriving in Kahramanmaraş, our team identified restaurant partners ready to start cooking immediately. Simultaneously, we began setting up a World Central Kitchen (WCK) Relief Kitchen, providing meals for shelters and nearby rural villages.
The collaborative efforts of partner nonprofit organizations have played a pivotal role in rapidly scaling our operations. Reuniting with WCK, an organization with whom we've collaborated in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Ukraine, Instant Aid worked tirelessly to deliver thousands of meals to families in Kahramanmaraş.
As Turkey and Syria grappled with the aftermath, search and rescue crews persisted in their tireless efforts, working around the clock despite freezing temperatures and snow. We upheld our commitment to providing immediate relief and aiding in the recovery process, recognizing the urgency of supporting the communities facing the wake of the disaster.