The earthquakes on February 6 that devastated southern Turkey and northern Syria have left an estimated 54,000 people dead. The disaster also displaced over 1.9 million Turks in temporary shelters and left more than 500,000 Syrians homeless, according to the United Nations. An estimated 2.2 million people in Turkey have fled the earthquake zone, creating even greater humanitarian hardships in a region already affected by hyperinflation, civil war, and political tensions.

Multilateral support for disaster relief and humanitarian aid began soon after the earthquakes with the World Bank releasing $1.78 billion in emergency funds. The United Nations also issued an appeal for an additional $1 billion in aid, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development pledged €1.5 billion ($1.6 billion) to Turkey. Furthermore, the European Union has allocated €12 million ($12.7 million) for relief work in Turkey and €10 million ($10.6 million) in Syria. The United States has provided $185 million in assistance through USAID.

Candid has been tracking philanthropy’s response to the Turkey and Syria earthquake and reporting on major giving by corporations and foundations. Here are a few highlights of what we have learned in the past month:

  • Candid has identified 310 grants worth $143.9 million and an additional 50 pledges worth $51.1 million for total commitments of $195 million.
  • Various Red Cross federations (American Red CrossTurkish Red Crescent, and Syrian Arab Red Crescent) have received 47 grants worth $19.2 million.
  • 70% of grants and pledges were made with identifiable announcement dates, with 83.5% of the total dollar value captured in the first 14 days of data collection.
  • The IKEA Foundation, a Dutch foundation established by IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad, has committed $21.4 million—representing the largest contribution from any foundation.
  • 55% of grants and pledges and 50% of the total dollar value of contributions and commitments have come from corporate giving programs.

Candid’s Philanthropy News Digest (PND) has been tracking news about support efforts. Only a relative few independent foundations in the United States and Canada have made public contributions, such as $500,000 from the Patterson Foundation in Florida; $250,000 from the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation in Maryland; and $188,000 from the Coram Deo Foundation in Canada.

Notable individual contributions include $30 million from an anonymous Pakistani donor, who reportedly walked into the Turkish Embassy in Washington, D.C., to make the gift. Individuals have also donated to several campaign funds like the United Kingdom’s Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC)’s Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal, which has raised £101.5 million ($122 million). This figure encompasses contributions from the British royal family and £5 million ($6 million) from the UK government; and the Turkish Philanthropy Funds (TPF), which raised $11.2 million from 40,000 donors.

Read the full article about philanthropy's response to Turkey and Syria earthquakes by Daniel X. Matz at Candid.