Boone-based Samaritan’s Purse is providing medical assistance to victims of a devastating earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria earlier this month.
The Christian humanitarian aid organization is providing a makeshift hospital in Turkey with 52 beds. Teams will also provide emergency equipment including tarps, blankets and solar lights to the relief effort.
The February 6 earthquake ravaged parts of southern Turkey and northern Syria. This week, the United Nations appealed for almost $400 million to help survivors in rebel-held Syria who have received little assistance.
Nearly five million survivors are estimated to be in the Syrian region and the U.N. says food insecurity in the area was a problem even before the natural disaster.
The 7.8 magnitude earthquake is believed to have killed nearly 40,000 people.