SINGAPORE - A pair of local fundraising drives has raised more than $1.7 million for victims of the devastating Turkey-Syria earthquake.

More than $1 million was raised in six days in a campaign launched on Friday by Singapore-based charity Rahmatan Lil Alamin (Blessings to all) Foundation (RLAF), in collaboration with Turkey-based aid organisation Hayrat Yardim. The money will provide victims with items such as tents, hot meals, mattresses, blankets and winter clothing.

Meanwhile, $720,000 has been raised as of 5pm Wednesday, through a campaign by DBS to support the Singapore Red Cross’ relief efforts for victims of the earthquake. Launched on Friday, the campaign raised $550,000 in its first three days.

The bank allowed its customers to donate via its digibank app. DBS said it is also providing dollar-for-dollar matching for employee contributions in an internal fund-raising drive.

More than 40,000 people have died in the wake of a magnitude-7.8 earthquake that hit south-eastern Turkey and the north-western regions of neighbouring Syria in the early hours of Feb 6.

United Nations emergency relief coordinator Martin Griffiths warned on Sunday that the death toll could more than double. Turkey said about 80,000 people were in hospital, with more than one million in temporary shelters.

The Singapore Red Cross has raised more than $3 million since it launched its fundraising campaign on Feb 8, which will run until May 31. Those who wish to donate can do so online at redcross.sg/donate-turkey-syria

In a Facebook post on Monday, the Turkish Embassy in Singapore asked donors to contribute money instead of in-kind donations, citing the gradually changing needs of those in the areas struck by the earthquake.

Donation details

RLAF campign

• Donate at giving.sg/rlafoundationsg/TurkiyeSyria2023
• To use PayNow, please key in RLAF’s UEN: 200910530ZRLA and indicate “TurkiyeSyria2023” under remarks. For the QR code, go to rlafoundation.org.sg/donations
• Make an interbank transfer to RLAF at OCBC Current Account (account number: 601313315001).
• Make a cheque payable to “RLAF”. State on back of cheque the donor’s name, contact number and indicate “TurkiyeSyria2023”. Mail your cheque to RLAF at Masjid Yusof Ishak, 10 Woodlands Drive 17; or to Muis at 273 Braddell Road.
• Donation boxes will be placed in all mosques in Singapore until Thursday.

DBS/POSB initiative

• Log in to the DBS digibank app and tap on the LiveBetter section on the homepage.
• Tap on the Give Better icon to access a list of supported campaigns. Click on the “Donate to Earthquake Relief and Recovery Operations in Turkey and Syria” campaign.