The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the multinational Amazon company are working together to assist persons affected by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria, according to an IOM press release dated February 28.
Two Amazon cargo planes carrying emergency relief supplies reportedly arrived in Istanbul during the weekend to support IOM's ongoing humanitarian response to the recent earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.
The supplies will be delivered to families in the affected areas who have lost their homes, according to IOM.
The relief efforts are carried out in close coordination with the government of Turkey, and through implementing partners in Northwest Syria, the press release states.
Approximately 5 million displaced persons across the two countries
The earthquakes in Turkey and northeastern Syria have destroyed homes, hospitals, and key infrastructure, displacing nearly 5 million people across the two countries. More than 50,000 people were killed in both countries.
The dire situation in the affected areas is further exacerbated by continuous aftershocks. Vulnerable families, many of whom have lost everything, are in need of safe and secure shelter.
IOM says it is working with some 1,000 staff in Turkey for its disaster relief -- 600 of whom are based in the affected areas in southeast Turkey; and large-scale cross-border operations in Northwest Syria run from Gaziantep.
Over one million people received assistance
So far more than 1,25 million people have been reached with immediate relief assistance, according to IOM. In total 422 trucks worth of aid were dispatched in the two countries, with support from national partners in Turkey and through implementing partners in Northwest Syria.
Amazon and IOM have partnered up before. For instance, Amazon offered pro bono contributions and supported IOM's operations in Bangladesh for the Rohingya response during the Covid-19 pandemic and for IOM's response in Ukraine and neighboring countries.