A Turkish soldier walks among the destroyed buildings in Hatay after a 7.8‑magnitude earthquake struck the country’s southeast. (Photo credit: AFP)
Popular Australian design platform Canva has pledged to donate its proceeds for three days to victims of the Turkey‑Syria earthquakes. A notice posted on the Canva platform on Friday morning reads: “For 72 hours, all proceeds from any elements purchased in Canva will be donated towards emergency crisis relief in Turkiye and Syria.”
On 6 February, two devastating quakes measuring 7.5 and 7.8 magnitudes struck Turkey and Syria, leaving more than 40,000 dead. Al Jazeera reports that the death toll is now approaching 44,000 across both countries. Turkish authorities say at least 38,044 people have been killed in Turkey, while the Syrian government and the United Nations estimate more than 5,800 deaths in Syria. Turkish President Recep Erdogan described the quakes as “the disaster of the century.”
The United Nations appealed for over $1 billion in funds for the Turkish relief effort on Thursday, just two days after launching a $400 million appeal for Syria. The World Health Organization also launched a flash appeal on Saturday, seeking $42.8 million to meet immediate health needs. Other international organizations that have provided assistance include the International Committee of the Red Cross, various Muslim groups, and numerous donors.
Several countries—among them the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia—have contributed aid to the affected nations. In a recent act of solidarity, Turkish boxer Seren Cetin, the 2022 World Boxing Council champion, auctioned her WBC Silver Bantamweight title belt to help earthquake victims. In a tweet, the 26‑year‑old announced she hoped to raise at least one million Turkish liras (about $53,000) and pledged to donate all proceeds to Ahbap, a Turkish non‑governmental organization supporting the victims.
Comments are closed for this story.