Bedfordshire Freemasons have donated £60,000 to charities supporting the survivors of the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria.
Damage from the quake has affected at least seven provinces in Turkey as well as across northwest Syria.
Thousands of homes have been destroyed, displacing families, and schools, hospitals, and other medical and educational facilities will have been damaged or destroyed by the quakes.
Potential damage to roads and critical infrastructure will also complicate search and rescue efforts and the wider humanitarian response.
Donate to the UK Red Cross DEC Turkey and Syria Earthquake Appeal
The grant, made possible by donations from our local Freemasons’ lodge and others around the UK will go to the British Red Cross, as part of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC).
It will then be directed to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) which are leading the relief effort on the ground.
More than 16,000 people are confirmed to have died in the two quakes which devastated large areas of southwest Turkey and across the border in Syria earlier this week (Monday).
The death toll is expected to rise significantly as more bodies are found.
Tens of thousands of survivors are sleeping in the open in temperatures which have fallen well below zero.
Snow is falling in some parts as the region experiences colder-than-average winter weather that is also hampering rescue efforts.
The grant comes through the Masonic Charitable Foundation, which is funded by Freemasons, their families and friends, from across England and Wales.
Luke Tredget, Head of Emergencies from the British Red Cross, said the cash will be directed to where it’s needed most.
“We’re very grateful for this generous grant which will allow us to provide immediate emergency relief to people who are in desperate need,” he said.
“This disaster has devastated vast areas of both countries and left millions of people in urgent need of help.”
Tony Henderson, Provincial Grand Master of Bedfordshire Freemasons added, ” I’m very pleased we’ve been able to help the Red Cross, UNICEF and the UNHCR with their relief effort following this terrible earthquake.
“Many thousands of people are in very urgent need of assistance and I’m proud that Freemasons are providing essential support to charities on the ground working with survivors.”
