Overview
More than 11,000 people have been killed and tens of thousands more injured in a devastating earthquake that struck southern Turkey and northern Syria the morning of Monday, Feb. 6.
One of the strongest earthquakes to hit the region in over a century, search and rescue teams are still finding bodies and estimate that thousands of residents will need immediate medical attention for their wounds.
The 7.8 magnitude quake had more than 100 aftershocks that continue to shake major city blocks, leaving many neighborhoods completely flattened. Turkey’s disaster bureau made an appeal for help from the international community as their relief teams continue to conduct emergency retrieval missions.
Send Relief is working with local partners in Syria and Turkey to respond to critical needs. Within hours of the disaster, local partners began providing blankets, water bottles, food and other emergency supplies in impacted neighborhoods.
We ask that Southern Baptists unite in prayer for those affected by this sudden disaster. Those desiring to give monetary donations can do so on Send Relief’s website.
Prayer Points
- Pray for the millions of people displaced from their homes and sleeping in the streets across Southeast Turkey and Northern Syria. Pray for the people who have no place to go and weathering the cold in search of shelter. Pray that the Lord would be their stronghold in times of trouble (Psalm 9:9).
- Three major airports were damaged in the earthquakes, which has severely limited international rescue and relief efforts. Pray that roads and runways would be opened soon so that help can arrive swiftly.
- In Syria, the areas impacted were already experiencing severe shortages of food, water, electricity and heat. With over four million internally displaced peoples in the affected region of Syria, the casualties are expected to be great. Pray for the few believers in this area to show the love of Christ to their neighbors.
- In Turkey, pray for the local churches and believers to respond as the hands and feet of Christ. Pray for Turks who are feeling lost and hopeless—that the God who Sees would meet them where they’re at and reveal the unending love of Christ.
- Pray for one church in Southeast Turkey whose building was destroyed by the earthquake. Praise the Lord that the church is not a building, but the people of God! Pray that God strengthens them as they rebuild and that the body of Christ would grow in numbers and strength.
