How Manitobans can help victims of the devastating earthquakes in Turkiye, Syria
Manitoba’s Islamic community is mobilizing to help after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake-ravaged areas of Turkiye and Syria early Monday morning.
“We're just devastated. Every day or every morning, the news is getting worse right now. So we're very sad across the community, and I'm sure across the province,” Manitoba Islamic Association vice-chair and treasurer Ruheen Aziz told CTV Morning Live Winnipeg in an interview Wednesday.
She said members of the association have family in Turkiye and Syria. Many have had difficulty communicating with loved ones due to the ongoing fallout from the quake, which killed more than 11,000 people, with thousands more injured.
“There's still war and displacement happening in parts of Syria, and so we're all just kind of waiting to hear more from back home,” Aziz said.
The death toll is expected to rise more as search and rescue operations continue in the aftermath of the world’s deadliest earthquake in more than a decade.
Search teams from more than two dozen countries have joined tens of thousands of local emergency responders on the ground in Syria and Turkiye.
The Canadian government announced Tuesday it will send $10 million for relief efforts as part of an initial aid package. International Development Minister Harjit Sajjan also said the feds are conducting a needs assessment to look at sending further aid.
Aziz hopes the government will also match donations made by Canadians. The association is currently raising funds on its website in conjunction with Islamic Relief Canada.
If you’re not able to donate money, Aziz said there are other ways to offer support.
“We've had a tremendous amount of Syrian refugees come and join Manitoba and become neighbours to us. So if you know somebody who is from that community, reach out. Lend an ear. Lend your support.”
- With files from CTV’s Rachel Lagacé and The Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.