In February 2023, southern and central Turkey and northern and western Syria was hit by a massive earthquake which caused widespread damage and tens of thousands of fatalities. It was one of the strongest earthquakes recorded in the area. An estimated 14 million people, or 16 percent of Turkey’s population, were affected. Development experts from the United Nations estimated that about 1.5 million people were left homeless.
Following the earthquake that took place in 2023, Salaam Foundation has been working on disaster relief in the region for the earthquake victims. Once the worst of the effects of the earthquake were mitigated, the work in the region expanded to working with orphans in providing stationery packs and madrassah support.
In November, the Salaam Foundation team visited the various projects being supported in the Turkish city of Sanliurfa. One of the projects is supporting the Madrassah Rashideen in Sanliurfa. The madrassah provides Islamic education and nurturing to approximately 400 students everyday – both girls and boys. The students from the Syrian refugee community as well as from local Turkish families. Throughout the year, the students attend the madrassah to receive Islamic education taught by well-established Ulama. For the children who have been facing many years of uncertainty and difficulties as a result of being displaced through war, the madrassah provides a safe space where they can learn Islamic education and the importance of Islam which they can share with their families at home.
On the day the Salaam Foundation team visited the madrassah, a warm meal was provided to the students – made possible by the donors of Salaam Foundation.
Along with the sustainable development and education programmes which the Salaam Foundation team is working on in the south-east of Turkey, emergency relief in the form of food parcels for widows and orphans play an important role. The Salaam Foundation team donated food parcels to alleviate some of the daily difficulties the families face. The rising cost of food and living, the aftermath of the earthquake and various other difficulties have worsened conditions for people in the region. These parcels play a vital role for families who are in desperate need. These food parcels help families until they are able to become self-sufficient.
Sanliurfa is the birthplace of Sayyidina Ebrahim (AS) and the town where he was flung into the fire by Nimrud. It is the meeting place of the Turkish, Kurdish and Syrian communities and is strategically located on the banks of the Euphrates River.
Sanliurfa has become the home for many refugees from Syria who had fled Syria since the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War. This is because the city is close to the border with Syria and has several opportunities for employment. There are hundreds of thousands of Syrians currently living in the city. The largest number of Syrians in the city are in the Haliliye district.
To continue to support the work being done in Turkey, donate:
Salaam Foundation
FNB 6266 914 7665
Branch 250 737
Ref: syr + your name (zakat/lillah/sadaqa)
