"I still feel the ground shaking"
A response update from Syria
It's well past midnight, but the emergency workers are still working tirelessly...
These people are the real heroes. They experienced the earthquake firsthand, fleeing their homes in the middle of the night – and were on hand 12 hours later to distribute food to survivors.
The humanitarian needs are great. Shelters have been set up in schools and sports halls – places that are not designed to accommodate so many people. One of these places is a sports hall in Latakia, Syria, where 2500 people are currently living. Sanitary conditions are poor. There is no running water and no electricity.
But among the devastation there is a small light. Gifts from people across Canada facilitated the distribution of food, water, blankets, and mattresses – and are working to solve some of the biggest health challenges before a long-term housing solution can be found for all of the many who have lost their homes and everything they own.
Many in the shelter don’t sleep at night for fear of more earthquakes. They can still feel the ground shaking. Everyone has lost someone, friends or family.
During one of the distributions, we were able to talk to a 60-year-old man. “I was not at home when the earthquake happened, I was at work in the bakery, I went back quickly with fear in my heart, and unfortunately, I saw that the building was demolished,” he told us.
When the rescue teams came, they were able to save his children, but his wife unfortunately didn’t make it. He and his children stayed in the hospital for two days because of their exposure to fractures and scratches.
The situation can seem hopeless when you have lost everything you own. Tearfund, through its local church partner ADRA, is working tirelessly to restore hope to the victims of the earthquake.
“Thank you for this food basket because it helps me in this difficult time, because I’m currently not working since the date of the earthquake due to the closure of the bakery,” the man says.
It is an overwhelming experience to be in Syria. To meet people who have lost everything. But at the same time, it is encouraging to see the resilience of people and hope even in the midst of darkness. To see how much we can do thanks to your generosity.
