Looking Back on Three Years of Earthquake Relief
Thank you for your faithful partnership and for standing with us throughout this ministry!
After three years, our earthquake relief ministry in Antakya came to an end this spring. The land the Turkish government had made available to us for a limited time is now needed for other purposes.
We are deeply grateful for the many lives we were able to touch, the relationships that were built, and the practical help we could provide through your faithful support.
Three years after the devastating earthquake, the situation in Antakya remains difficult. Although many new homes have been completed and handed over, the rebuilding effort is far from over.
Baran*, our Regional Director, recalls:
“In 2023, I had just moved from Turkey to the Global Nomads hub in Bulgaria. Three weeks later, I was back in Turkey. When the earthquake struck and destroyed 13 major cities, Global Nomads immediately formed a relief team and began collecting donations. Five days later, we were on site — in some places even before official government aid had arrived.
For two and a half months, we provided intensive relief — distributing over 3,000 meals and hygiene supplies every single day. The smell of death hung in the air for weeks; rubble was everywhere. Our days began at six in the morning and often didn’t end until after midnight, filled with conversations with survivors, police officers, and even soldiers. After three hours of sleep, we started again.
Our focus wasn’t on evangelizing — at least not with words. We simply cared for people’s basic needs. But soon they began to come to us and ask: ‘Who are you? Why are you doing this?’ Some said, ‘I’ve never experienced such love, mercy, and kindness in my life.’ Then I would often reply, ‘Gather your family and friends, and I’ll tell you why.’ In this way, I was able to share my personal testimony with more than 500 people.”
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*Name changed for security reasons.
Although our earthquake relief center has closed, we remain in close contact with our partners in the region.
If you would like to continue supporting people affected by the earthquake, you can still do so through Global Nomads.
