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Animals Rescued from Rubble After String of Devastating Earthquakes Across Turkey and Syria

Rescuers have been working tirelessly to help save countless animals that are trapped under rubble after a string of massive earthquakes hit Turkey and Syria. This week, a powerful 7.8 magnitude tremble tore through southern Turkey and northwestern Syria. The earthquake has already been one of the deadliest in decades and has reportedly killed over 20,000 people and injured countless others.

Now, brave rescuers are digging through rubble to find surviving humans and animals. A video went viral of rescuers in Iskenderun, Hatay, saving a small white dog that was trapped under debris. The dog was stuck between concrete, glass, and metal and the crews managed to bend pipes and free the dog. Hatay has reportedly had the highest death toll in Turkey thus far.

Source: @MiddleEastEye/Youtube

Rescuers have also saved a pet parrot from the rubble in Hatay, Turkey

Source: Reuters/Youtube

An Animal rights group in Turkey, Haytap is working on the ground to search for buried animals and is providing them with on-the-spot medical assistance as well.

“The treatment of the souls brought to the Haytap Sahara Tent continues,” the group tweeted. “There are many lives on the leash whose owners have passed away and are missing.”

https://twitter.com/HaytapOfficial/status/1623635338429190145?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1623635338429190145%7Ctwgr%5E6139ee737d82dd83d84b5cf5c8c602002875dd1f%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmetro.co.uk%2F2023%2F02%2F09%2Fdust-choked-animals-rescued-from-rubble-of-turkey-syria-earthquake-18257175%2F

How to Help Turkey and Syria

Even before the crisis, over 15 million people in Syria were in need of humanitarian assistance according to The International Rescue Committee (IRC). Funding is urgently needed to help people who have been affected by the earthquakes. The IRC is working to provide emergency services to families in Turkey and Syria and refugee families in countries around the world. For a limited time, monthly donations will be matched as the organization works to Support communities during this crisis. They currently have over 1,000 staff inside Syria working tirelessly to provide lifesaving Support and they will be scaling up their response in Turkey as well.

Your donation will go to providing cash and essential items, such as household kits, dignity kits for women and girls, and hygiene supplies including towels and blankets. Donations will also Support essential health services in affected areas and set up safe spaces for women and children affected by the crisis. Click here to learn more about donating.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is also collecting funds for its disaster response emergency fund. This will Support “immediate cash assistance” in affected areas.

Remember when donating that you should never provide personal details, bank account information, or other information without verifying the organization or individual collecting donations.