• Humanitarian aid relief packages provided by Saudi Arabia being unloaded at Aleppo International Airport in northern Syria. AFP
    Humanitarian aid relief packages provided by Saudi Arabia being unloaded at Aleppo International Airport in northern Syria. AFP
  • An airline worker loads boxes filled with donations onto a Turkish Airlines aircraft at Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Virginia. AFP
    An airline worker loads boxes filled with donations onto a Turkish Airlines aircraft at Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Virginia. AFP
  • Syrian workers help to take the food supplied off the plane. Mahmoud Rida / The National
    Syrian workers help to take the food supplied off the plane. Mahmoud Rida / The National
  • Displaced people lineup to receive aid supplies at a makeshift camp, in Iskenderun city, southern Turkey. AP
    Displaced people lineup to receive aid supplies at a makeshift camp, in Iskenderun city, southern Turkey. AP
  • Belarusians collect humanitarian aid for earthquake survivors. AFP
    Belarusians collect humanitarian aid for earthquake survivors. AFP
  • Volunteers of a local non-government organisation 'Pomozi. ba' help sort and pack donations, in Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. AFP
    Volunteers of a local non-government organisation 'Pomozi. ba' help sort and pack donations, in Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. AFP
  • Hundreds of boxes with relief aid are gathered at the municipality of Thessaloniki, in Greece. AFP
    Hundreds of boxes with relief aid are gathered at the municipality of Thessaloniki, in Greece. AFP
  • Nazli Goksoi helps sort donations at the Turkish Embassy in Washington, DC. AFP
    Nazli Goksoi helps sort donations at the Turkish Embassy in Washington, DC. AFP
  • Men in Cairo prepare blankets and clothes to be donated to people in Turkey. Reuters
    Men in Cairo prepare blankets and clothes to be donated to people in Turkey. Reuters
  • Iraqi security forces with humanitarian aid from Red Crescent meant for the affected people in Syria, at a military airbase near Baghdad International Airport. AP
    Iraqi security forces with humanitarian aid from Red Crescent meant for the affected people in Syria, at a military airbase near Baghdad International Airport. AP
  • South Korean firefighters gather before leaving for Turkey to help earthquake victims. AFP
    South Korean firefighters gather before leaving for Turkey to help earthquake victims. AFP
  • Algerian rescue teams arrive at Aleppo International Airport. AFP
    Algerian rescue teams arrive at Aleppo International Airport. AFP
  • Humanitarian aid for earthquake victims at a collecting point in Berlin. EPA
    Humanitarian aid for earthquake victims at a collecting point in Berlin. EPA
  • Umur Zamanoglu, a Turkish search and rescue team leader, outside Adana Airport. Reuters
    Umur Zamanoglu, a Turkish search and rescue team leader, outside Adana Airport. Reuters
  • Humanitarian aid to be sent to Turkey at Al Udeid air base in Qatar. AFP
    Humanitarian aid to be sent to Turkey at Al Udeid air base in Qatar. AFP
  • Crews from the Los Angeles County Fire Department, including these firefighters from Pacoima, are joining a USAid mission to Turkey to assist with earthquake recovery efforts. EPA
    Crews from the Los Angeles County Fire Department, including these firefighters from Pacoima, are joining a USAid mission to Turkey to assist with earthquake recovery efforts. EPA
  • Equipment belonging to Los Angeles County Fire Department teams is ready for the USAid mission to Turkey. EPA
    Equipment belonging to Los Angeles County Fire Department teams is ready for the USAid mission to Turkey. EPA
  • At a military airbase near Baghdad International Airport, Iraqi security forces prepare Red Crescent shipments for Syria to support survivors of the earthquake. Reuters
    At a military airbase near Baghdad International Airport, Iraqi security forces prepare Red Crescent shipments for Syria to support survivors of the earthquake. Reuters
  • Ground crews in Baghdad load a Red Crescent cargo into a plane that will leave for the earthquake zone in northern Syria. Reuters
    Ground crews in Baghdad load a Red Crescent cargo into a plane that will leave for the earthquake zone in northern Syria. Reuters
  • Red Crescent shipments from Iraq are sent to Syria, where many earthquake survivors have lived through civil war in the past 11 years. Reuters
    Red Crescent shipments from Iraq are sent to Syria, where many earthquake survivors have lived through civil war in the past 11 years. Reuters
  • Members of The Olive Branches humanitarian aid delegation of the Israel Defence Forces prepare to fly from Israel to Turkey to assist in earthquake-stricken south. Reuters
    Members of The Olive Branches humanitarian aid delegation of the Israel Defence Forces prepare to fly from Israel to Turkey to assist in earthquake-stricken south. Reuters
  • The international earthquake response at work as relief supplies from Swiss Humanitarian Aid are loaded on a plane to earthquake-hit Turkey at Zurich Airport. EPA
    The international earthquake response at work as relief supplies from Swiss Humanitarian Aid are loaded on a plane to earthquake-hit Turkey at Zurich Airport. EPA
  • Members of International Search and Rescue Germany board a charter plane at Cologne-Bonn Airport on their way to help find survivors of the earthquake in Turkey. Reuters
    Members of International Search and Rescue Germany board a charter plane at Cologne-Bonn Airport on their way to help find survivors of the earthquake in Turkey. Reuters
  • Relief supplies for earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria stand packed on Turmstrasse in the Moabit neighbourhood of Berlin. AP
    Relief supplies for earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria stand packed on Turmstrasse in the Moabit neighbourhood of Berlin. AP
  • Turkish residents of Berlin, with one the world's largest communities outside of Turkey, collect bags and boxes with warm clothes and other goods for a Turkish nursing service. Reuters
    Turkish residents of Berlin, with one the world's largest communities outside of Turkey, collect bags and boxes with warm clothes and other goods for a Turkish nursing service. Reuters
  • Polish firefighters at Rescue and Fire Fighting Unit No 9 in Lodz prepare to travel to Turkey. EPA
    Polish firefighters at Rescue and Fire Fighting Unit No 9 in Lodz prepare to travel to Turkey. EPA
  • In Otopeni near Bucharest, Romanian rescue workers prepare for operations in southern Turkey. EPA
    In Otopeni near Bucharest, Romanian rescue workers prepare for operations in southern Turkey. EPA
  • A Romanian rescue worker and search dog at a briefing before flying to southern Turkey to help local authorities in their rescue missions after the earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria. EPA
    A Romanian rescue worker and search dog at a briefing before flying to southern Turkey to help local authorities in their rescue missions after the earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria. EPA

How to donate to international aid groups to help victims of Turkey-Syria earthquake


Anjana Sankar
  • English
  • Arabic

Follow the latest on the earthquake in Turkey

As the death toll continues to rise after the devastating earthquake that hit the Turkey-Syria border on Monday morning, the world is coming together to help the embattled countries.

An online donation drive is in full swing and hundreds of donation sites by international charities and local community groups from all over the world have popped up overnight.

Unicef said it is moving quickly to respond to the needs of thousands of families and children affected by the earthquake.

“Children who are now in immediate danger of being hurt or killed in the oncoming aftershocks and collapse of infrastructures need urgent shelter, safe drinking water, and hygiene essentials,” the charity said in an online appeal for donations.

“Eleven years into the conflict, economic downturn, and displacement have left hundreds of thousands of families struggling to survive in Syria. Now, the impact of such a devastating earthquake makes the situation even more desperate.”

_______________________________

Here are some of the major international charities accepting collections.

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Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has also urged people to donate through its website as its team of doctors and local partners in Northwest Syria responds to the medical crisis.

“Health facilities are impacted and overwhelmed, and medical personnel in northern Syria working around the clock to respond to the huge numbers of wounded arriving to the facilities,” said Sebastien Gay, head of MSF mission in Syria.

“In the first hours, our teams treated around 200 wounded and we received 160 casualties in the facilities and the clinics that we run or support in northern Idlib. Our ambulances are also deployed to assist.”

Another international charity that is counting on public donations is Save the Children, which has set up a page for donating to earthquake victims.

“Our teams are on the ground in the region and ready to respond,” it said on its website. “Homes, buildings and essential infrastructure have been destroyed and children will need urgent support to access food, shelter and warm clothing.

“In any crisis, we know that children are always the most at risk. The Children's Emergency Fund enables us to respond to crises around the world, whether from conflict, climate change or natural disaster.”

Care International, a humanitarian organisation that has presence in Turkey and Syria, has also urged people to give emergency aid including food, shelter, hygiene kits, cold weather supplies and cash assistance.

Many organisations involved in rescue and relief operations are also asking for donations in cash and kind. For instance, the American Red Cross, which has about 900 Turkish Red Crescent workers and volunteers distributing food and medical aid to the affected families, has said it needs donations for tens of thousands of tents, heaters, blankets, thermal clothes and ready-to-eat meals.

Red Crescent organisations in both Syria and Turkey said their teams were helping with recovery and aid efforts. The organisation affiliated to the International Red Cross has asked people to donate first aid kids, blankets and clothes. It said it urgently needs items including biscuits, bread, energy bars, flour, ready-to-eat meals, pasta, rice, milk, and baby formula.

The Syrian American Medical Society, which is offering urgent medical care to victims of the earthquake, has said that the hospitals in Syria are overstretched.

The White Helmets, a Syrian humanitarian organisation specialising in search and rescue operations, said its team of volunteers are working around the clock to pull bodies from the rubble. The group has solicited donations through its website.

In the UAE, there are strict laws governing donations and fundraising. Residents wishing to donate to Syria or Turkey should do so through registered charities.

Unless a person or community group had permission from a licensed charity, such as Emirates Red Crescent or Dar Al Ber Society, they would be breaking the law by “fundraising” — asking others for money for a cause — according to a federal law governing charitable work in the country.

But there is no known clause in current law, or previous ones, that would entirely prevent people from donating to a major international charity. People are advised to make sure they know where the money is going.

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Sarfira

Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad

Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal 

Rating: 2/5

Titanium Escrow profile

Started: December 2016
Founder: Ibrahim Kamalmaz
Based: UAE
Sector: Finance / legal
Size: 3 employees, pre-revenue  
Stage: Early stage
Investors: Founder's friends and Family

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What are the influencer academy modules?
  1. Mastery of audio-visual content creation. 
  2. Cinematography, shots and movement.
  3. All aspects of post-production.
  4. Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
  5. Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
  6. Tourism industry knowledge.
  7. Professional ethics.
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

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'The Sky is Everywhere'

Director:Josephine Decker

Stars:Grace Kaufman, Pico Alexander, Jacques Colimon

Rating:2/5

Desert Warrior

Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley

Director: Rupert Wyatt

Rating: 3/5

Cracks in the Wall

Ben White, Pluto Press 

Thanksgiving meals to try

World Cut Steakhouse, Habtoor Palace Hotel, Dubai. On Thursday evening, head chef Diego Solis will be serving a high-end sounding four-course meal that features chestnut veloute with smoked duck breast, turkey roulade accompanied by winter vegetables and foie gras and pecan pie, cranberry compote and popcorn ice cream.

Jones the Grocer, various locations across the UAE. Jones’s take-home holiday menu delivers on the favourites: whole roast turkeys, an array of accompaniments (duck fat roast potatoes, sausages wrapped in beef bacon, honey-glazed parsnips and carrots) and more, as  well as festive food platters, canapes and both apple and pumpkin pies.

Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, The Address Hotel, Dubai. This New Orleans-style restaurant is keen to take the stress out of entertaining, so until December 25 you can order a full seasonal meal from its Takeaway Turkey Feast menu, which features turkey, homemade gravy and a selection of sides – think green beans with almond flakes, roasted Brussels sprouts, sweet potato casserole and bread stuffing – to pick up and eat at home.

The Mattar Farm Kitchen, Dubai. From now until Christmas, Hattem Mattar and his team will be producing game- changing smoked turkeys that you can enjoy at home over the festive period.

Nolu’s, The Galleria Mall, Maryah Island Abu Dhabi. With much of the menu focused on a California inspired “farm to table” approach (with Afghani influence), it only seems right that Nolu’s will be serving their take on the Thanksgiving spread, with a brunch at the Downtown location from 12pm to 4pm on Friday.

Updated: February 09, 2023, 9:41 AM