Salesians responded quickly to the devastation

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries with Don Bosco Network and the Middle East Planning and Development office report that the Salesian emergency response to the 2023 earthquake in Turkey and Syria* resulted in 30 projects supported by 27 Salesian organizations. The 7.8 earthquake struck southern and central Turkey and northern and western Syria on Feb. 8, 2023. In its wake, 14 million people were affected and 1.5 million people were left homeless, according to the United Nations. The earthquake killed close to 55,000 people in the two countries.

Salesians quickly responded to the devastation. Father Simon Zakerian, Middle East provincial, explained, “One of the most beautiful things that happened was the correspondence that involved the whole congregation including all the Salesian centers and mission offices. They all came together to support the emergency response. This provided a sense of family, trust and joy despite the suffering for all those impacted, especially the youth. They felt supported by so many brothers and sisters who were thinking of them in prayer and who offered material and psychological support. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Father Alejandro León, the provincial at the time, was making the canonical visit in Syria and coordinated the emergency efforts directly, which allowed Salesians to mobilize funds immediately. In his message in February 2023, Fr. León shared, “It’s been three very difficult days. The first night 300 people were here to sleep, the second night it was 420 and now, as of nine o’clock in the evening, more than 500 people are seeking asylum. We are welcoming everyone.”

In addition to the quick mobilization of funds, there were many in-kind donations from the Syrian people in Damascus, who despite having almost nothing, shared their goods with their brothers and sisters in Aleppo and Kafroun. This meant that international funds lasted even longer and that joint efforts had a bigger impact in reaching more victims.

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Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Syria – A crisis within a crisis: Salesian Emergency Response after the Earthquake in Syria

Salesian Missions – Syria

*Any goods, services or funds provided by Salesian Missions to programs located in this country were administered in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including sanctions administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control.