From the humanitarian-aid portion of our FOUR GIFTS advent collection we set aside €1,000 to go to support the community of Salesian brothers in Syria.

On the night of 5–6 February 2023, a devastating magnitude 7.8 earthquake on the Richter scale struck Turkey. The epicentre was Kahramanmaraş in southern Turkey, near the north-western border with Syria. It was followed by a large number of aftershocks and another strong earthquake of magnitude 7.5.

In the Syrian city of Aleppo, hundreds of buildings collapsed, and the death toll across both countries is now estimated at more than 5,000 — a figure that may rise, as thousands of people remain trapped under the rubble. The situation is being made worse by low temperatures and windy weather. An estimated 4.1 million people in north-eastern Syria are at risk.

The Salesian centre in Aleppo suffered only limited damage in the form of cracks and some broken windows. The Syrian Ministry of Health reports 42 deaths and more than 200 injured in the city of Aleppo. “The earthquake was felt very strongly and for a long time,” explains the Salesian Alejandro Leon, the Salesian Provincial for the Middle East, who was in Kafroun (western Syria) and was travelling that day to Damascus.

The Salesians and the people they serve are safe. As soon as the strong tremors began, some families left their homes and went to the Salesian centre in the city of Aleppo, looking for help and shelter. There they were welcomed and given warm clothing, food and emotional support. Since early this morning more than 300 people have been staying at the centre: their homes have been heavily damaged as a result of 12 years of war, and they feel safer on Salesian premises. We were able to contact the Salesians in Syria immediately, thanks in part to our cooperation with them on the project Building the skills of vulnerable groups of the population in Syria for the labour market.

The Salesians and their centre in the city of Aleppo will, in the coming hours and days, become a temporary refuge for many people who, because of the devastating consequences of the earthquake, cannot return home. The Salesians of Don Bosco in Syria are also turning to us with a request for prayers and financial help. The costs of caring for the people who are arriving will grow, as the Salesians are determined to help as many people and families as possible. 

At the moment, the Salesians at the Aleppo centre are funding the purchase of food, hygiene supplies, blankets and pillows for 300 people. In addition, minor damage to the building needs to be repaired. For 150 families they are preparing a voucher to buy food, medicines and hygiene supplies, and to cover expenses for gas and electricity. There are also costs for the wages of people who help as administrative staff, cooks and psychologists.

The Salesian communities in the cities of Kafroun and Damascus are also preparing to help people who will be looking for refuge at their centres. They therefore need to fund the purchase of food for approximately 350 people.

Get involved and support activities helping people affected by the earthquake in Syria:

• by paying in or transferring a financial gift directly to the account number:

IBAN: SK5511000000002626853119

Variable symbol: 043045

• via the payment portal darujme.sk

• QR code

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SAVIO o.z., NPP-12820573, DESIGNATION: Syria

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