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Earthquake-Stricken Syria Needs Your Help

ACT NOW AND SAVE LIVES !

The 7.8-magnitude earthquake and aftershocks that struck Türkiye and Syria in February 2023 have caused widespread devastation and affected over 5 million people across the country. The Syrian population was already deeply affected by the ongoing war and the economic collapse of the country and now, many people must deal with being displaced, losing their livelihood, and fighting the harsh winter conditions.

[UPDATE 10/04/2023] Two months after the earthquake, ACT Alliance members continue to provide aid to stricken regions. GOPA-DERD is providing psychological first aid to children, while HEKS-EPER is helping restore food security to the region through rebuilding local bakeries.

(photo credit: GOPA-DERD)

(photo credit: HEKS/EPER)

[UPDATE 08/03/2023] The Middle East Council of Churches is being involved in the relief and rehabilitation efforts in Syria under the name of “Rescue Syria Campaign” . As of 8th March, MECC has distributed 250 blankets to 83 displaced families from Aleppo, with more distribution sessions to be held. Read MECC’s full March update here.

(photo credit: MECC)

(photo credit: MECC)

Countless buildings were destroyed in the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes (Photo: MECC)

Displaced families gather in a shelter, awaiting much needed humanitarian aid and supplies (Photo: MECC)

The severe earthquakes have destroyed the existing rudimentary roadworks that were strained under the civil war. This drastically hindered humanitarian aid from reaching the most seriously affected areas. Over 4.4 million people in northwest Syria are in need of assistance, living in overcrowded camps that lack access to basic services. The ACT Alliance immediately released an appeal pertaining to the disaster. Since then, the ACT Alliance members GOPA-DERD, MECC, Christian Aid, HEKS have been participating extensively in needs assessments, rescue operations, offering shelter, distributing food, winterization and medical aid to the homeless survivors.

ACT member MECC providing mattresses and blankets, as well as hot meals, to affected families. (Photo: MECC)

Staff from ACT member GOPA-DERD conducting damage assessment in the wake of the earthquakes. (Photo: GOPA-DERD)

As a funding member of the ACT Alliance, the Amity Foundation has been actively raising funds to support these and future humanitarian operations. You can help bring much-needed aid for the people of Syria by donating to Amity through the “DONATE NOW” button at the top of this page or via our general donations page. For offline donations, please download and fill out this donation form. You can also contribute through Amity Foundation HK’s Alipay appeal page for Syria by scanning the QR Code below.

[Banner photo credit: Reuters]

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Devastating Earthquakes Cause Massive Casualties

The People of Türkiye need Your Help!

A 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Türkiye and Syria on February 6, and the numbers of casualties continue to rise. Rescue work has proven difficult due to the continued aftershocks in the disaster area, as well as the extremely low temperature, frequent snowstorms, and the rubble of collapsed buildings. Hundreds of thousands of disaster survivors have lost their loved ones and homes, unable to find shelter in buildings due to the continued threat of aftershocks. The survivors, including orphaned children, are forced to sleep outdoors in the bitter cold. Emergency supplies such as medicine, food, water, and warm clothing are urgently needed.

[UPDATE 15/02/2023] Following in-depth assessment, Amity staff purchased household hygiene products such as sanitary pads, diapers, toilet paper, wet paper towels from Adana and delivered them to Elbistan, one of the most severely affected areas. The supplies will be distributed to temporary resettlement areas to alleviate the needs of women and children who are taking shelter there.

[UPDATE 14/02/2023] Amity Foundation (Hong Kong) responded to the appeal of the Consulate General of Turkey in Hong Kong and urgently procured more than 800 warm wool blankets to be sent to Turkey.  Dozens of boxes of wool blankets have been inspected by volunteers,  packed and sent to the disaster area by Turkish Airlines to bring warmth to the survivors of the earthquake.

[UPDATE 13/02/2023] Amity is conducting need assessment and coordination works with local forces in the disaster area.

[UPDATE 10/02/2023] Our staff have reached Malatya and joined forces with the local rescue efforts.

[UPDATE 09/02/2023] Amity immediately launched an emergency response after the disaster, and our staff have arrived in the disaster area to work with our local partners to deliver humanitarian relief to the affected.

You can help bring much-needed aid for the people of Türkiye by donating to Amity through the “DONATE NOW” button at the top of this page or via our general donations page. For offline donations, please download and fill out this donation form. You can also contribute through Amity Foundation HK’s Alipay appeal page for Türkiye by scanning the QR Code below.

Scan QR Code to donate via Alipay HK

[Banner photo credit: Reuters]

Climate Crisis brings Deadly Floods

The People of Pakistan need Your Help!

Since June 2022, Pakistan has experienced severe monsoon weather leading to widespread flooding and landslides, the latest in a series of large-scale natural disasters brought on by climate change. To date, one-third of the country is submerged underwater, leaving its people in dire circumstances. As of mid September, over 1500 people including many children have died. More than 500,000 homes were destroyed leaving many displaced.

Evacuees have been forced to settle in poor conditions, with many contracting malaria and dengue fever. As water levels remain high, resources such as shelter, food, clean water, clothes, medicine and mosquito nets are urgently needed. Further support such as health and safeguarding services are required to help Pakistan rebuild in the wake of the ordeal.

On 16 September 2022, ACT Alliance released an official appeal outlining the response strategy to be carried out in Pakistan, with the following target outcomes:

1. Flood affected communities have access to food, non-food, health, winterization items, and Wash services appropriate and relevant to their immediate needs and ensuring safeguarding and protection through capacity building of humanitarian actors working with the flood affected communities.
2. Flood affected communities have access to emergency/primary health care services through static health units.
3. Flood affected communities are capacitated on flood resilient shelter reconstruction and communal/ institutional WASH infrastructure for restoration of basic needs of water and sanitation and ensure information sharing and coordination among the aid agencies.
4. Flood affected communities can meet their essential needs of the flood affected communities through provision of cash for work.

Full details of the ACT Alliance Appeal, as well as guidelines for donating directly to ACT Alliance, can be found here.

As a founding member of the ACT Alliance, the Amity Foundation is responding to these targeted needs in partnership with Community World Service Asia (CWSA). You can help bring much-needed aid for the people of Pakistan by directly supporting ACT Alliance’s appeal or donating to Amity via this page. You can also contribute through Amity Foundation HK’s Alipay appeal page by scanning the QR Code below. Your kind donation will support short- and long-term relief operations for the people of Pakistan.

Photo credit: Reuters

Alipay HK Appeal

The Amity Torch Program is an educational international project that supports students and their families and promotes the realization of education equity. Poor families in developing countries often face the financial burden to send their children to school or equip them with the basic needs to pursue their education. The situation has worsened due to COVID-19, which brings additional challenges to families in difficult situations. The Amity Torch Program aims to reduce local school dropouts by providing financial aid and living and learning materials for underprivileged children in developing countries. In addition to the school supplies and hygiene kits, the parents receive cash incentives. The South-South cooperation project has benefited more than 5,000 children and their families and runs in 8 developing countries in Asia and Africa (Nepal, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, the Philippines, Thailand, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda). It is our strong belief that no one should be left behind in our strive for the sustainable development of all people. (Cover picture @NCCP)

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In remote and mountainous regions of the western plateau, students have to study under candlelight or with oil lamps due to lack of electricity. Such weak light not only affects the children’s learning efficiency but also can harm the development of the children’s vision. The Amity Foundation provides photovoltaic lighting systems for them to improve their situation. The cost of one photovoltaic power station is 230 RMB or 34 USD. Amity delivers simple and practical photovoltaic power supplies and lamps to the students in the western mountainous areas. The supplies are easy to use, portable, including fold-able solar panels, mobile power supplies, bulb lights and LED folding lights. It can be carried in a school bag, charged by the sun during the day, and used at night. The solar system provided by Amity has a high energy conversion rate, it is safe and pollution-free, and effectively solves the problem of insufficient power supply and lighting in the provinces of the western plateau.

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Amity Bakery is a social enterprise and a sheltered vocational training center that provides employment and vocational training for young adults with learning difficulties. Amity Bakery serves as a platform for advocacy and raises awareness on issues of underprivileged people in China. Company employees and school classes are visiting the Amity Bakery on a regular basis to attend cooking classes and learn about the concept of inclusion of challenged people. The Amity Foundation is committed to improve the living quality of people with mental challenges, support them to attend vocational training, and help to build confidence and capacity for their families.

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The Amity Foundation Sprouts on Earth project focuses on maternal and child nutrition in underdeveloped areas of Mainland China. The project provides continuous and in-depth services such as pregnancy check-ups, nutritional support, growth monitoring, and health education for poor women and newborns. The project aims to reduce maternal and child health risks, improve overall population quality, enhance health service capacity, and ultimately promote the sustainable development of rural revitalization.

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The Living Water Campaign aims to raise public awareness of the global water crisis and encourages people to take action, to help to improve the water and sanitation situations in poor areas. With the global epidemic raging, the needs for safe drinking water and sanitation in poor areas require extra attention. The fund raised in 2020 is used for communities in need in Nepal, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka, to build water and sanitation facilities, improve health and living conditions, as well as supporting awareness education on water conservation and environmental protection. The Living Water Campaign started in 2010.

— Click here to join the Walk for Living Water 2023 —

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