Helping people affected by the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that shook Turkey and Syria will require both quick cash and long-term support. That’s according to a spokesperson for the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, who shared recommendations with MarketWatch on how to help in the aftermath of the quake, which had killed more than 3,000 and injured more than 12,000 people as of Monday afternoon, the Associated Press reported.
As rescuers try to free people trapped in rubble, it’s most effective to send cash to groups working directly in the affected areas, said CDP’s Kristina Moore. “Give cash,” Moore said. “Cash allows on-the-ground agencies to direct funds to the most significant area of need, support economic recovery and ensure donation management does not detract from disaster recovery needs.” In other words, sending supplies like bottled water and clothes to a disaster area can sometimes be more of a hindrance than a help, especially if groups haven’t specifically requested such supplies. Cash allows “families to purchase items and services that address their multiple needs” and helps “move families faster toward rebuilding their lives,” Moore said. Recovery from the quake is complicated by the ongoing civil war in Syria. Getting aid to affected Syrians “is likely to be more difficult, considering the country is not controlled by one authority,” CDP wrote in a blog post. To help Syrians in particular, donate to “vetted humanitarian NGO partners that supp …