The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) is mourning the loss of thousands of lives in Turkey and Syria following a massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit the region in the early hours of Monday, Feb. 6. The death toll from the quake has surpassed 17,000 people, and is still rising with tens of thousands injured, hundreds of thousands displaced, and thousands of buildings toppled.
NCC is urging congregations in the U.S. to join the global community in praying for and supporting those impacted, as aftershocks, inclement weather conditions, civil war in Syria, and a refugee crisis on the border between the two countries, have made efforts to rescue those who may be trapped in the rubble risky and extremely difficult. Disaster and humanitarian relief organizations around the world, such as Lutheran World Relief, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, and International Orthodox Christian Charities, are responding to the crisis and providing assistance to those who have been left desolate, without food, shelter or personal belongings. Many are also grieving the loss of loved ones or still searching for those who are missing.