On Feb. 6, 2023, at 4:17 a.m., several earthquakes shook the countries of Turkey and Syria, shattering the souls of many. The first quake came in the early hours of Monday morning. Without warning, buildings swayed and toppled as parents in Turkey and Syria pulled sleeping children from their beds and rushed out into the cold, dark winter night. Tens of thousands of people have been killed and scores more severely injured by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit south-eastern Turkey, near the Syrian border. Although earthquakes are common in Turkey, this Turkey earthquake that was produced by tectonic settings was massive and rare.

As children continue to cope with the shock, fear, and uncertainty, their parents are struggling to keep them safe and warm in temporary shelters. Some families are afraid to return to their homes, now in danger of collapse, while others no longer have a home to go to. Furthermore, numerous aftershocks, the biggest of which had a magnitude of 7.5, continue to shake the land. It is estimated that 23 million people in Turkey and Syria were directly affected by the earthquakes, with the staggering death toll surpassing 50 thousand in Turkey and neighboring Syria. According to a new study, approximately $109 billion worth of property has been destroyed and about 200 thousand buildings have collapsed due to the havoc the quake caused. Now charities and committees all around the world are working tirelessly to help first responders rebuild the lives of the survivors of the crisis.