Center for Civil Society and Democracy (CCSD) have issued the following statement on March  22nd 2023:

In the last week, flooding has disturbed the lives of many people in Syria and in Türkyie who have been affected by the devastating earthquakes around six weeks ago that struck southern Türkyie and Northwest Syria. Local civil society groups and organizations working on the front line continue supporting traumatized people through addressing their basic needs; shelter, food, water, heat, livelihoods and economic recovery.

In response to the cataclysmic suffering of the Syrian people and in recognition that it will take many years to rebuild lives and communities CCSD is engaged in three main pillars to support the local response for the earthquake:

  1. Supporting local civil society groups and organizations, including women groups and women led groups, to provide humanitarian support and to have the core support for their operations. CCSD has initiated a MHPSS Fund to provide Syrian and Turkish people with Mental Health and Psychosocial Support through online and in-person services. This fund functions through collaboration with MHPSS providers, supporters and local organizations. 
  2. Identifying and supporting peacebuilding opportunities through the humanitarian response. In addition, supporting conflict sensitive and gender sensitive interventions to respond to the humanitarian crisis.  
  3. The earthquake crisis is huge in Türkyie and it is a multi-layered disaster in Northwest Syria. Citizen participation and local engagement from the early stages will help the response to the earthquake be more effective and also more responsive to the needs of the local communities. CCSDS works based on Consultation, Inclusion and Accountability principles in order to engage more local communities in the local response.  

Over the past six weeks CCSD has worked with over twenty local civil society partners including women groups in Türkyie and Northeast Syria as part of our emergency local response campaign, #Together, where we have focused on addressing the needs of families affected by the earthquake. We have provided food baskets and water, tents, blankets, wood and heaters, hygiene kits, dignity kits for women, and MHPSS support for our partners.  

With your support CCSD will continue this work. Your contribution is tax deductible and 95% of all donations provided go to the emergency local response campaign.

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After six weeks of the earthquake, we are truly committed to supporting our local civil society partners that are supporting our local communities to overcome the diverse challenges after the earthquake. Since the first day of the earthquake, CCSD mobilized an immediate response. Working with our local civil society partner networks CCSD built an understanding of the situation on the ground and the immediate needs of the affected communities. In both Türkyie and Northwest Syria we mobilized  teams of volunteers. With our local civil society partners we have had the necessary access and have been able to provide an early response based on local needs and be flexible in our response. 

 

Center for Civil Society and Democracy (CCSD) have issued the following statement on February 26th 2023:

Three weeks have passed since the devastating 7.3 and 7.4 magnitude earthquakes that struck southern Türkyie and Northwest Syria. Over ​​9,500 aftershocks (and still counting) and multiple earthquakes ( including 6.4 magnitude on February 20) continue to traumatize people and exacerbate the problems of finding shelter and addressing basic needs. Shelter, food, water, heat needs are still not being met in many areas.  Many people now face long-term challenges, including disrupted livelihoods and economic recovery.

In response to the cataclysmic suffering of the Syrian people and in recognition that it will take many years to rebuild lives and communities CCSD is recommending:

  1. A commitment to core humanitarian principles and the opening of all Syrian corridors, both external and internal, and routes to facilitate humanitarian access.
  2. Implementing solutions to alleviate the suffering of Syrian people who are traumatized and have lost loved ones in the earthquake, for example the release of detainees through granting Amnesty. 
  3. Renewed efforts to build peace based on UNSCR 2254 which will help address the misery for hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees and IDPs and improve the humanitarian response for the catastrophic earthquake. 

Over the past three weeks CCSD has worked with our local civil society partners including women groups in Türkyie and Northwest Syria as part of our emergency local response campaign, #Together, where we have focused on addressing the needs of families affected by the earthquake. These have included providing food baskets and water, tents, blankets, wood and heaters, hygiene kits, dignity kits for women.  

With your support CCSD will continue this work. Your contribution is tax deductible and 95% of all donations provided go to the emergency local response campaign.

DONATE in USD

DONATE in EUR 

On the day of the earthquake CCSD mobilized an immediate response. Working with our local civil society partner networks CCSD built an understanding of the situation on the ground and the immediate needs of the affected communities. In both Türkyie and Northwest Syria we mobilized  teams of volunteers. With our local civil society partners we have had the necessary access and have been able to provide an early response based on local needs and have been flexible in our response.

 

 


photo credit: Ahmad Jaddou

Center for Civil Society and Democracy (CCSD) have issued the following statement on February 13th 2023:

We send our condolences to all people who lost loved ones in Syria and in Türkyie. We share our love and strength with all people who have been affected directly and indirectly by the earthquake in Syria and in Türkyie.

We value all the solidarity messages, actions and the volunteer efforts that are contributing to the Emergency Local Response campaign, and we THANK everyone who has supported our Campaign for Syria and Türkyie. 

A week after the earthquake, we are seeing its catastrophic impact. As of now, the death toll across Syria and Türkiye is over 37,000,  this number is expected to increase significantly. Our teams have been supporting people in Northwest Syria and in Türkyie. With your help we can do more. Please support our campaign.

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Please share with your networks and on social media. If you prefer to donate by wire or if you/your organization can support our work in any other way please email us.

Many of you have asked how donated emergency funds will be used. We are adopting a localized emergency response, meaning our local partners including women’s groups will make decisions based on local needs in Northwest Syria and Türkiye. We are proud of all the civil society leaders mobilizing support for the people in need, such as Volunteer to Build who have assessed the needs in Attarb, Syria as part of the Emergency Local Response Campaign. They have provided baskets for children one-six years old in one of the IDPs centers, and wood to be used for heating in another IDP Center. Another local association Sanabl Alamal have distributed food baskets to the people affected by the earthquake. Our support is structured and prioritized around a few key areas: humanitarian assistance (tents, food, water, hygiene kits, support for burials), logistical support for rescue and medical operations, communication assistance (internet support), and psychosocial support.  

The weather continues to be extremely cold. More help is needed for  shelter (tents and blankets) and heat (wood burning stoves or electric heaters). The most vulnerable – children, people with disabilities, and women need support.  Families with homes intact have taken in IDPs, they need support. 

We are witnessing community spirit and resilience;people have come together to support rescue operations, volunteers have mobilized to distribute basic needs,  shelter, water, food and people have supported each other in their unimaginable grief and sorrow.

 

Photo Credit: Mohammad Haffar

Center for Civil Society and Democracy (CCSD) have issued the following statement on February 8th 2023:

Thank you very much everyone who has supported our Emergency Local Response. Your support is very much appreciated and much needed. The earthquake in Syria and Türkiye is a heartbreaking tragedy, the scale of this emergency is enormous. Every donation will help make a difference. Please support our campaign:

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Please share with your networks and on social media. If you prefer to donate by wire or if you/your organization can support our work in any other way please email us.

Thanks also to our incredible donors for your flexible emergency funds and for your understanding at this very difficult time, and our bank, Eagle Bank, for waiving transfer fees to Türkiye over the next three months.

Photo Credit: Mohammad Haffar

As of now, the death toll across Syria and Türkiye is over 11,000,  this number is expected to increase significantly. We send our condolences to the people in Syria and Türkiye, and we stand in solidarity with all affected in Syria and Türkiye. Our support goes to the people spending multiple nights on the streets in the bitterly cold conditions. We are proud of all the civil society leaders mobilizing support for the people in need, including the White Helmets. 

Many of you have asked how donated emergency funds will be used. We are adopting a localized emergency response, meaning our local partners including women’s groups will make decisions based on local needs in Northwest Syria and Türkiye. The support is structured and prioritized around a few key areas: humanitarian assistance (tents, food, water, hygiene kits, support for burials), logistical support for rescue and medical operations, communication assistance (internet support), and psychosocial support.  

The earthquake is impacting communities in Syria that are already struggling with humanitarian needs, and more than 12 years of war.  CCSD and our local partner organizations have access to local communities, and an ability to mobilize community action, that complements the work of civil defense and international humanitarian organizations. 

If you have any questions email us.  Please support our campaign:

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Please share with your networks and on social media.

Center for Civil Society and Democracy in the United States and Europe (CCSD) have issued the following statement February 6th, 2023:

Today at ~4.17am local time, a powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck in the region of Gaziantep in Türkiye and neighboring Syria. Hundreds of people were killed as they slept, many others are trapped beneath the rubble. This has been followed by a second 7.7 magnitude earthquake today. We have been in close contact with our partner SİVİL TOPLUM VE DEMOKRASİ DERNEĞİ (The Center for Civil Society and Democracy in Türkiye). 

CCSD is supporting those affected by this devastating earthquake in Türkiye and Syria.  The most immediate needs identified by our partner in Türkiye and Syria are as follows: 

1- Support for rescue operations; the teams who are rescuing people from under the debris and destroyed buildings.
2- Support for the hospitals and medical centers that are supporting those injured and suffering from hypothermia.   
3- Food, water and blankets for people in the streets.
4- Temporary housing for people especially because of the cold weather. 
5- Communication support to be able to assess the needs, document the damage and communicate about the situation.
6- Support for local organizations and women’s organizations to support their efforts standing with and supporting their local communities. 
7- Psychosocial support for people to help them cope with the shock and loss.

Our thoughts are with all those who have lost loved ones and the brave first responders working to save lives.  If you are able to support Syrians at this very difficult time please To :

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Thank you,

Board Center for Civil Society and Democracy in Syria (USA)

Board Center for Civil Society and Democracy Europe

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