Earthquakes have hit south east Turkey and north east Syria, on 6th and 20th February causing huge loss of life and devastation.

Approximately 30 million peoplehave been affected by the disaster in Turkey and 10.9 millionin Syria.

ArRahma Foundation representatives recently returned from the region after their visit, to oversee and partake in, emergency support and lifesaving aid being distributed by partner charities to the surviving earthquake victims on the ground, based on 100% donation policy.

They shared stories of huge loss of lives and the graphic detail of devastation as they travelled through the region caused by the earthquake.

They witnessed seeing entire villages simply in rubble, completely wiped out.

They reported witnessing *widespread panic and fear in response to the daily aftershocks* , particularly, during the second earthquake occurring on 20th February while they were in the region.

The witnessed people fear and anxiety to sleep inside buildings. The entire region is filled with temporary shelters and tents.

In the most devastated areas every area of open land and grassy patches have been taken up by temporary shelters for 100s and 1000s of families. 100s of families were seen staying in cars overnight.

Over 47,000 people have already been confirmed deadacross both countries and this is continuing to rise as bodies are recovered from the rubble.

In Syria, particularly, communications are almost completely down, health facilities are understaffed and under-resourced, theres freezing temperatures, shortages in fuel and electricity due to damaged infrastructure, and limited supplies due to strained supply chains.

*The situation on the ground is dire.*

The scale of this disaster cannot yet be determined as the situation on the ground continues to evolve, what we do know is that it is a race against time to save lives.

ArRahma Foundation is working with its partner charities with established infrastructure to deliver the lifesaving aid to the victims.

*Please donate generously* .

The Messenger of Allah said: " *Whoever relieves a Muslim of some worldly distress, Allah will relieve him of some of the distress of the Day of Resurrection, and whoever conceals (the faults of) a Muslim, Allah will conceal him (his faults) in this world and the Day of Resurrection.* " (Ibn Majah)