On Feb. 6, 2023, at approximately 4:17 a.m., the first earthquake hit the town of Gaziantep, which lies in southeastern Turkey near the border of Syria. This was the first and most destructive earthquake of that day, reaching a magnitude of 7.8 on the Richter scale.
Nine hours later, the second quake measured 7.5. on the Richter scale. These combined tremors devastated the area and its people, leaving those who did not perish homeless, grieving, in fear of aftershocks and desperate to find survivors beneath the rubble. On February 20, two more significant earthquakes hit the region, with magnitudes of 6.3. and 5.8 respectively.
Combined, these quakes have caused the death toll to climb to more than 47,000. This figure is expected to rise in the following weeks as more destroyed homes are discovered. The disaster—the deadliest in the region since the Erzincan earthquake of 1939—has left several million people displaced across Syria and Turkey.
The University is working toward ensuring support for those affected by this disaster, and the Turkish Student Association (TSA) also has set up tables within the University’s Schine Student Center and Bird Library to raise money for relief funds through their donation website. These funds are being used for rescue, shelter, food, and medical assistance.
Ibrahim Kizil G’21
Ibrahim Kizil G’21 is TSA president. A graduate of the School of Education’s Instructional Design, Development, and Evaluation program, Kizil is currently a literacy education Ph.D. student. His wife, Seyma, is also taking a doctorate in literacy education and earned a master’s in teaching and curriculum and a certificate of advanced study in designing digital instruction. Kizil discussed the impact this catastrophic event has had in Turkey, and how the University community can help with relief efforts.
What is the current situation on the ground in Turkey, and how is your family coping?
“Thousands of buildings collapsed after the first two big earthquakes. In these earthquakes, which affected 11 big cities in Turkey, approximately 15 million people were affected. There are hundreds of thousands of injured, and the number of deaths is approaching 50,000 at the moment, but it is expected to reach approximately 200,000. Millions of people whose homes were damaged have moved to other cities. The people who stayed have been living outside. Some people are living in tents, some in their cars.
“My family lives in the area affected by the earthquake. Thank God they were healthy and safe, but they also have been living outside because earthquakes and aftershocks continue. Recently, people whose houses were not destroyed started to enter their houses and live. On Monday, when there were two earthquakes again, people went outside again. In the city of Hatay, which is in the earthquake zone, a few buildings that were not affected originally were destroyed by these last two earthquakes. Now there are almost no buildings left undestroyed in this city.”
How would you describe the response by Turkey and the international community?
“Currently, the Turkish government is sending emergency aid packages to people. Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), the official institution of the country, has thousands of officers in the region. Non-governmental organizations in Turkey are working actively. Additionally, many countries are supporting Turkey in this difficult time. Many international aid organizations have sent and continue to send aid.”
How would you describe the response of the Syracuse community and how can one contribute to help with relief
“As the president of TSA, together with my friends, I started a donation campaign by working with some offices across the University. Many officials, including Marcelle Haddix, associate provost for strategic initiatives, have supported us and continue to do so. Since the first day, the School of Education’s Dean Kelly Chandler-Olcott, one of our literacy program’s professors, Zaline M. Roy-Campbell, and many other professors have contacted me and my wife, Seyma, via email or social media, making us feel that they are with us. We are so appreciative of all of these efforts.
“The TSA is sending financial aid to Turkey. The community can help us by donating to our charity campaign and spreading the word. Beyond donating to our appeal, I would ask Syracuse University professors to reach out to affected students to give them psychological support. Our professors have reached out to us, and we were very happy. I think all affected students at Syracuse need this support.”
Story by Margaret Gilbert ’23, intern in the School of Education Communications
