Earthquake emergency in Syria. COOPI in Aleppo has helped 4,500 displaced people so far. But to do more, it needs donations

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14-02-2023 | di COOPI

Earthquake emergency in Syria. COOPI in Aleppo has helped 4,500 displaced people so far. But to do more, it needs donations

Milan, 14 February 2023 - As of yesterday evening, COOPI - Cooperazione Internazionale (an Italian organisation that has been present in Aleppo for 5 years) has managed to provide first assistance to 4,500 men, women, children and elderly people, who have found refuge in 10 shelters (schools, churches and mosques) in the areas of Kallaseh, Saif Aldauleh, Alneil Street, Jamilie, Sulayman Alhalabi, Bouston Alqasser, Qadi Askar, after the earthquake of 6 February.

COOPI has so far provided 500 blankets, 400 hygiene kits (1 per family), 800 solar lamps, 400 medical devices, including wheelchairs and crutches, as well as psychological support to about 1,500 people, but the need is enormous.

"People are severely traumatized and desperate; they are asking for food and money to buy the things they need most, along with mattresses and blankets," explains Matteo Crosetti, COOPI Regional Coordinator in the Middle East. "Our staff in Aleppo report that tensions are very high. People are angry because assistance is slow to arrive".

COOPI has drawn on its emergency fund to meet immediate needs and organize new distributions, but more needs to be done. This is why it is launching a fundraising appeal to support its humanitarian actions in favor of the population.

You can donate to COOPI with the causal "Earthquake emergency" in these ways:

  • online: https://dona.coopi.org/terremotosiria/
  • by bank transfer (Banca Popolare Etica - IBAN IT89A0501801600000011023694)
  • by postal bulletin (c/c 990200 made out to COOPI)

According to data released by the Syrian Ministry of Health yesterday, 13 February, the number of people affected by the earthquake has risen to 7.2 million, including over 2 million in the Governorate of Aleppo. Here, 56 buildings have collapsed completely, in addition to an indefinite number of buildings damaged or about to collapse. In the city of Aleppo, an estimated 18,500 families have found refuge in shelters provided by the local and religious authorities and, according to COOPI, about 100,000 people no longer have a viable home.

COOPI started working in Syria in 2016, focusing first on providing livelihoods to the families most affected by the crisis and living in the rural Damascus area. In 2018, it opened the psychosocial support programme in Aleppo, focusing on community centers. In this way COOPI was capable of reaching over 40,000 people over time, through specialized therapies and awareness campaigns on mental health, prevention of violence and abuse on women and children. To this in 2021, it added the food security programme, which through the support of horticulture, small-scale animal husbandry or the use of the cash-for-work or cash-transfer system has enabled thousands of families to survive.