February 2023 - Relief Efforts

UPDATE February 21, 2023:

This program is no longer collecting donations, but it should be noted that student led initiatives have raised nearly $14,000.
More donation opportunities can be found in this article at time.com.

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February 14, 2023: Duke men’s basketball sophomore Stanley Borden, a native of Istanbul, Turkey, is coordinating a 7.8-kilometer run on Duke’s East Campus on Wednesday to help raise funds for earthquake relief in Turkey and Syria.

Borden, whose family still resides in Istanbul but were unaffected directly by the quakes, is organizing the effort along with fellow Blue Devils from the Turkish and Syrian communities. The 7.8-km run is to signify the 7.8-magnitude of one of the earthquakes that devastated the region.

To participate in the run, sign up in advance: Duke Community Registration | Durham Community Registration (non-Duke students/staff/faculty). Proceeds will go to AKUT Search and Rescue Association.

The run begins at Baldwin Auditorium on Duke’s East Campus at 3 p.m., with a celebration for runners and the Duke Community at 5 p.m.

On Monday, Feb. 6, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck southern Turkey and northern Syria. Several aftershocks have occurred, including a 7.5 earthquake. More than 12,000 people have died in Turkey and Syria and thousands more have been injured.

Duke students have organized a vigil that will occur on the Chapel Quad at 5:30 on Thursday, February 9th.

Additionally, professor Kathryn Morgan, who se work is featured in Duke Today, is helping to organize an event in Chapel Hill this weekend to highlight the importance of the region and its need for help right now.

The free, public event will be at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12, at the Sancar Turkish Cultural and Community Center on East Franklin St. in Chapel Hill.

Among the speakers will be Robert Pearson, a former U.S. ambassador to Turkey.

Below are a few organizations carrying out search and rescue operations, and mobilizing a response.

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency

UNICEF

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent

Save the Children

Doctors Without Borders

More Relief Agencies (PDF)

In addition, the money collected from the offering during the Sunday, February 12 Duke Chapel worship service will go to a community partner, United Methodist Committee On Relief, that is processing a grant for the International Blue Crescent in Turkey, which has issued an appeal for emergency supplies such as tents, heaters, blankets, warm clothes, food and first aid.

Month: February 2023

Run for Turkish Earthquake Relief

Relief Efforts for Turkey/Syria