On February 6, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck central southern Türkiye, close to the Syrian border, followed by dozens of violent aftershocks. The earthquakes have resulted in thousands of deaths in Türkiye and Syria and affected hundreds of thousands of people.

USAID deployed a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to lead the U.S. government’s response efforts in support of the Government of Türkiye. The DART will conduct disaster assessments, identify urgent humanitarian needs, assist with search and rescue operations, and work with partners on the ground to save lives.

USAID appreciates the generosity and compassion of the American people that are seeking to help the people of Türkiye and Syria in this difficult time. Decades of experience in disaster relief shows that cash donations to vetted and verified humanitarian organizations conducting relief operations are the most effective way to help. For those looking to support, USAID’s Center for International Disaster Information (CIDI) has a list of vetted organizations responding to this crisis.