Web3 Community Unites to Aid Turkish-Syrian Earthquake Victims

The Web3 ecosystem united together to provide all the possible

Help and aid to the victims of the Turkish-Syrian earthquake. This natural disaster is one of the worst that we have seen in recent history.

A major earthquake hit southeastern Turkey along the border with Syria following a terrible 7.8-magnitude on Feb.6, which has caused the death of more than 20000 people. By coming together, the Web3 community was able to offer a lifeline to those affected by the tragedy, providing much-needed aid and support in the face of such a calamity or raising awareness and relief for disaster victims.

And the sight of newly constructed apartments collapsing in the earthquakes that hit Turkey has sparked sympathy all across the world. Infrastructure in the region sustained extensive damage, leading to a devastating cross-border humanitarian crisis with fatal consequences. 

However, the world reacted right away and quickly responded with the required help. Across the internet and various social media platforms, people have been gathering funds for regional and global aid organizations to provide much-needed relief to those in the affected areas. This collective effort has been a testament to the power of humanity and our ability to come together in times of crisis.

Two of the largest aid efforts in Turkey, AFAD Turkiye (the government agency for such disasters) and the NGO Ahbap (led by philanthropist Haluk Levent), have been at the forefront of organizing an influx of aid.

Levent announced that his organization has opened up crypto addresses to take donations in several types of digital currency, providing a secure and efficient way for donors to contribute to the relief effort. This innovative approach to aid distribution has enabled Ahbap to quickly and effectively provide assistance to those in need.

Refik Anadol, a renowned Turkish artist and art director, recently launched a crowdfunding campaign via an Ethereum address, with the intention of transferring the collected funds to both AFAD and Ahbap. This generous initiative is a testament to Anadol's commitment to giving back to the community and helping those in need. 

Within the Web3 space, several companies in the industry have taken the initiative to provide help, whether it be in the form of cryptocurrency or fiat donations or even physical aid. These organizations have stepped up to the plate to make a difference in the lives of those in need.

In response to the devastating earthquake that struck the Kahramanmaraş region of Turkey, local crypto exchange Bitci has sent an aid truck to the affected area, while also announcing that all commission income for the month of February will be donated to Ahbap on behalf of the earthquake victims. Icrypex has also joined the effort, coordinating with AFAD and Ahbap to provide relief.

BtcTurk has gone above and beyond, donating 6 million liras ($318,000) to the Ahbap and Akut organizations, as well as 1.2 million liras ($62,000) worth of clothing aid to the zone in coordination with local governments. Additionally, the Turkish branch of ByBit and OKX have both committed to sending $100,000 and 1 million Liras (~$53,000) in aid, respectively. 

This generous show of support from the crypto community is a testament to the power of collaboration and the potential of blockchain technology to make a positive impact in times of crisis.

As a potential method of raising money for the disaster, nonfungible tokens (NFTs) have also been discussed. Nonfungible tokens were also mentioned as a possible way of fundraising for the disaster.

Turkish NFT artist Pak recently tweeted about an Ethereum donation to Ahbap, along with plans to launch an NFT initiative to provide long-term support. Additionally, Gate.io has proposed developing an NFT aid initiative to provide additional assistance in the near future.

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