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Original poster

Have you donated anything to Syria or Turkey

105 replies

heartbroken22 · 08/02/2023 20:00

Obviously money. It's so sad seeing them suffer. We did it for Ukraine. Why can't we help Turkey/Syria? A lot of people around me don't really care and it's heartbreaking.

OP posts:
Justfolditin · 09/02/2023 01:43

Yes to red cross

Forgottenmypasswordagain · 09/02/2023 02:24

Yes. Via Red Cross.

PleaseCleanTheWholeToilet · 09/02/2023 02:54

I live in a small town in England
There is a bug Turkish community and i feel so so sorry for them

They are all doing lots of appeals and taking things themselves, driving vans

One went today, One is going tomorrow and the next one is Saturday

Saturdays one will leave the donated things on the Syria border for the Syrians

So very sad

Butitsnotfunnyisititsserious · 09/02/2023 06:28

Ach, it would be v sweet, but it is his birthday money. If he doesn't want to do it, it should not be coerced.

I agree. No child should be forced to give up their birthday money for Syria and Turkey. They're a child.

WednesdaysPlaits · 09/02/2023 06:34

I went to see The Beekeeper of Aleppo this week. Obviously a sympathetic audience given its about Syria but everyone was donating afterwards.

mynameisnotkate · 09/02/2023 06:49

I’ll be giving tomorrow on pay day and having a couple of tight weeks (beans on toast, pasta, etc) to cover it. Hardly much of a sacrifice compared to the terrible thing people are going through.

Glad to see most people are giving money not stuff. Giving stuff and driving it out in vans is a lovely instinct but it’s almost never the right thing to do. The overheads of processing and storing it for the disaster relief people is huge, it clogs access routes, distracts from the more vital activities and often is the wrong stuff, no longer needed by the time it arrives - plus it can destabilise the local economy. Much better to give money to the disaster relief organisations who will know exactly what is needed, when and where and will organise mass purchase of what is needed as locally as possible and ship it in to the relevant area efficiently.

WeAreTheHeroes · 09/02/2023 06:53

Rowthe · 08/02/2023 21:36

Want to go via the DEC because the amount you donate is matched by the government up to a max of 5 million

£5m is a piddling amount to the UK govt. But if it encourages donations.

Justellingthetruth · 09/02/2023 06:54

@heartbroken22

the same people who won't donate I imagine are the one going on about people in boats in the channel.

with no legal way to apply want would you do if you are these hugely unfortunate people.

it's such a mess we have to in the west give them money to rebuild

DesertRose64 · 09/02/2023 09:26

mynameisnotkate · 09/02/2023 06:49

I’ll be giving tomorrow on pay day and having a couple of tight weeks (beans on toast, pasta, etc) to cover it. Hardly much of a sacrifice compared to the terrible thing people are going through.

Glad to see most people are giving money not stuff. Giving stuff and driving it out in vans is a lovely instinct but it’s almost never the right thing to do. The overheads of processing and storing it for the disaster relief people is huge, it clogs access routes, distracts from the more vital activities and often is the wrong stuff, no longer needed by the time it arrives - plus it can destabilise the local economy. Much better to give money to the disaster relief organisations who will know exactly what is needed, when and where and will organise mass purchase of what is needed as locally as possible and ship it in to the relevant area efficiently.

It’s strange you’re saying that because where I live it’s the Syrian Embassy who’ve asked for donations of specific items and it’s the government where I live who’ve set up an air corridor to get the items from this region to Syria.

mynameisnotkate · 09/02/2023 10:13

DesertRose64 · 09/02/2023 09:26

It’s strange you’re saying that because where I live it’s the Syrian Embassy who’ve asked for donations of specific items and it’s the government where I live who’ve set up an air corridor to get the items from this region to Syria.

Show quote history

If the government is working directly with aid agencies and has an air corridor organised in conjunction with the disaster relief and they’re wanting to source resources elsewhere, that’s a different situation. They probably have people locally doing the sorting who are working with the aid agencies to make sure they get what’s needed. This happens but is unusual - maybe necessary because Syria is both a war zone and a disaster area.

Most of these collections are organised by local (to the giver, not the disaster) charities without direct instructions from the disaster management. These are the ones that cause problems.

whereaw · 09/02/2023 10:19

I donated to Syria Relief, nearly all of the funds go to charitable activities rather than raising money.

HappydaysArehere · 09/02/2023 10:22

Taking warm coats in good condition and dh has found sweaters etc. today to a collection point.

maranella · 09/02/2023 10:27

Yes, donated to DEC this morning after I heard the appeal on R4.

surreyisik · 09/02/2023 10:28

Yes and my employer is matching the donations of the employees after a colleague of mine raised it with the corporate. A friend working in a university did the same.
We are using Oxfam and a local yet very reputable charity called Ahbap.
I just can't sleep thinking about those poor people. The situation is so dire that the supply chains completely collapsed and they are looking for basic stuff like underwear and nappies, not to mention starvation 😢

mogtheexcellent · 09/02/2023 10:31

Not money but 3 duvets and covers plus some coats to my neighbours who are turkish and taking a van out there today. Our village rose to the challenge and Ive been helping them sort though and load the van.

Havent any spare money at all but i wanted to do something.

Original poster
heartbroken22 · 09/02/2023 10:49

I can't stop crying seeing the footage especially of young children and babies I'm sure you guys are the same. I hope schools etc are doing their bit too. Please encourage everyone and anyone who can help. It really is heartbreaking.

OP posts:
OrangeToothbrush · 09/02/2023 10:51

Yes, Red Cross and will think about where to send more after next pay day.

Phos · 09/02/2023 10:53

Not yet no. DD’s school are having a non uniform day tomorrrow and have been asked to donate £1 but I’ll put some extra in.

Gerwurtztraminer · 09/02/2023 12:10

Yes to DEC because of the govt matching. Coming from a country that regularly gets earthquakes (though never anything as devastating as this) I can't not. Having been through many scary shakes, I just can't imagine the fear they must be feeling.

I'd not heard of White Helmets until this happened but now I do I will donate to them as well.

Delorestormborn · 09/02/2023 12:19

Yes.

DoorstoManual · 09/02/2023 12:24

DEC done this morning, six figure inheritance landing in six weeks will then send more.

BHRK · 09/02/2023 12:25

Yes, I’ve donated via DEC this morning

whereaw · 09/02/2023 12:57

Cannot find anywhere near to me to donate items in addition to money.

TreehousePine · 09/02/2023 15:05

Thank you for the reminder.

SingingSands · 09/02/2023 15:46

Yes, donated via the International Rescue Committee, which my firm has promoted on their internal website.

Also donated to a go fund me, set up by a dad living in the area. We know of them as the family used to live locally and only moved back to Turkey last year. Our sons played for the same football team and were in the same year at school. Luckily they survived but their community has been devastated.

It's just so desperately sad, I feel so helpless.