His Eminence Metropolitan Basilios has been in contact with His Beatitude Patriarch John X of Antioch, after the earthquake that struck the region on Monday early morning, offering his prayers, solidarity, and support for everyone affected by the earthquake centred in Turkey.
More than 4,300 people have died in Turkey and Syria and injured thousands more. Homes have been destroyed. Extensive damage to Antiochian churches and casualties is still being assessed, now as far as Aleppo, Hama, and Latakia in Syria, in addition to Alexandretta, Mersin and Antioch in Turkey.
His Eminence, the Rev. Clergy, the parish councils of our churches and congregations across our Archdiocese will coordinate a relief response from the Antiochian Archdiocese of Australia towards their brothers and sisters who are afflicted by the unprecedented earthquake.
Additional updates will be provided as soon as possible.
Also, straight after the devastating earthquake and under the directives of His Beatitude Patriarch John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, GOPA-DERD team conducted a rapid assessment to provide emergency response to the afflicted families who were affected as a result of the earthquake that hit Syria at the break of dawn today.
After consistent and high-level coordination with the official authorities, GOPA-DERD began its response through a rapid needs assessment, by distributing relief materials in the affected governorates: Aleppo, Hama, and Lattakia, where the team distributed food kits, winterization, mattresses and blankets, trying to secure a safe haven for those who lost their homes to relieve damage caused by this disaster.
