Center for Civil Society and Democracy (CCSD) issued the following statement on August 29, 2023:
In the last six months, the lives of many people in Syria and Türkiye have been deeply affected by the devastating earthquakes that struck Türkiye and Syria starting on February 6th, 2023.
Marwa, 40 years old, is an internally displaced Syrian woman with four children and a missing husband. She explained,” I have lived through tremendous difficulties; displacement, sieges, and relentless bombings. The earthquake was a devastating experience for me. I lost my home again, and I was worried about losing one of my children. It is good that we have a tent for a year in this camp. With the support I received, I can do my sewing to support my family in these trying times.”
Through the support of CCSD, local civil society groups and organizations contributed to reducing human suffering and increasing solidarity among the local communities. CCSD initiated our emergency local response campaign, #Together, where we focused on addressing the immediate needs of families affected by the earthquake, including shelter, food, water, heat, livelihoods, and economic recovery. CCSD extended its focus to encompass the needs of our diverse local civil society partners, including women groups in Türkiye and Northwest Syria, as they serve their respective local communities.
During the six-month phase after the earthquake, CCSD supported nineteen organizations in Türkiye across 14 cities affected by the earthquake. We have provided direct support for more than 30988 individuals and 7747 families. In Northwest Syria, CCSD supported eighteen groups and organizations in 10 different areas and three camps. We have provided direct support to more than 25740 individuals and 6435 families. CCSD is offering professional MHPSS support for all our frontline partners and also in-person psycho-social support for the local communities where they work.
In consultation with our local partners, CCSD will focus on the second phase of our response campaign to the earthquake for six months in the following areas:
1- Continue to support local groups and organizations (from Phase 1) and support some new organizations. This support covers their basic day-to-day operating expenses, MHPSS for their staff and volunteers. It also incorporates support to design and implement micro-programming in Northwest Syria, which will help create economic opportunities for the local communities.
2- Support for gender-sensitive interventions that will help women’s groups and organizations respond to women’s needs and priorities identified by women—for example, safe spaces for women and women facilities in the camps.
3- Support for social cohesion projects led by IDPs and refugees cooperating with their host communities.
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.
After more than six months of the earthquake, we are truly committed to supporting our local civil society partners that are supporting our local communities to overcome the medium and long-term consequences of the devastating earthquake. With our local civil society partners in Syria and Türkiye, we have the necessary access to provide medium and long-term flexible responses based on local needs.
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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:
- A commitment to core humanitarian principles and the opening of all Syrian corridors, both external and internal, and routes to facilitate humanitarian access.
- 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.
- 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.
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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