EA - Send funds to earthquake survivors in Turkey via GiveDirectly by GiveDirectly

Link to original articleWelcome to The Nonlinear Library, where we use Text-to-Speech software to convert the best writing from the Rationalist and EA communities into audio. This is: Send funds to earthquake survivors in Turkey via GiveDirectly, published by GiveDirectly on March 2, 2023 on The Effective Altruism Forum.If you’re looking for an effective way to help survivors of the Turkey-Syria earthquake, you can now send cash directly to some of the most vulnerable families to help them recover.GiveDirectly is delivering ₺5,000 Turkish lira (~$264 USD) directly to Syrian refugees in Turkey who have lost their livelihoods. This community is some of the most at risk in the wake of the disaster which struck last month.While food and tents are useful, there are many needs after a disaster that only money can buy: fuel, repairs, transport school fees, rent, medicines, etc.Research finds in emergency contexts, cash transfers consistently increase household spending on food and often increase the diversity of foods they consume.Syrian refugees in Turkey are struggling to recoverNearly 2 million Syrian refugees who fled violence in their own country live in southern Turkey where the earthquake struck. These families had fragile livelihoods before the disaster:1 in 5 refugee household lacked access to clean drinking water. 1 in 3 were unable to access essential hygiene items17% of households with school-age children are unable to send their children to school45% lived in poverty and 14% lived in extreme poverty. About 25% of children under 5 years were malnourishedAfter the earthquake, our local partner, Building Markets, surveyed 830 Syrian refugee small business operators (who are a major source of employment for fellow refugees) and found nearly half can only operate their business in a limited capacity as compared to before the disaster. 17% said they cannot continue their business operations at all currently.Your donation will help this community recoverWith our partners at Building Markets, we’re targeting struggling Syrian refugee small business operators and low-income workers in the hardest-hit regions of Turkey (Hatay, Adana, Gaziantep, Sanliurfa). We’re conducting on-the-ground scoping to develop eligibility criteria that prioritizes the highest-need families based on poverty levels and exclusion from other aid programs.In our first enrollment phase, eligible recipients will receive ₺5,000 Turkish lira (~$264 USD). This transfer size is designed to meet essential needs based on current market prices. The majority of Turkey’s refugee population has access to banking services and will receive cash via digital transfer. We are prepared to distribute money via local partners or pre-paid cards in the event that families can’t access financial networks.In-kind donations are often unneeded after a disasterStudies find refugees sell large portions of their food aid. Why? Because they need cash-in-hand to meet other immediate needs.Haitian and Japanese authorities report 60% donated goods sent after their 2010 & 2011 disasters weren’t needed and only 5-10% satisfied urgent needs.While food and tents can be useful, there are many needs after a disaster that only money can buy: repairs, fuel, transport school fees, rent, medicines, etc. Cash aid is fast and fully remote, letting families meet essential needs quickly and reaching them via digital transfers that don’t tax fragile supply chains or clog transit routes.Research finds in emergency contexts, cash transfers consistently increase household spending on food and often increase the diversity of foods that households consume.The story of a survivor: Hind QayduhaThe following is the story of one Syrian refugee survivor, Hind Qayduha, from the New York Times.First, Syria’s civil war drove Hind Qayduha from her home in the city of Aleppo. Then, conflict and joblessness forced her family to flee two more times. Two years ago, she came to southern Turkey, thinking she had finally fou...