Intrepid launches Türkiye & Syria earthquake emergency appeal

Intrepid Travel has launched an emergency appeal and committed $100,000 AUD through their not-for-profit, the Intrepid Foundation, to support immediate relief, aid, and rescue efforts in Türkiye and Syria following the devastating earthquake. 

Intrepid Travel has further committed to donating all profits from bookings made on trips in Türkiye until April 30, 2023, to support the appeal.

The Intrepid Foundation has partnered with Australian Red Cross to ensure funds are effectively allocated to provide immediate and longer-term relief to communities affected by the earthquakes. 

This will enable Red Cross and Red Crescent partners to address the immediate and longer-term humanitarian impacts of the earthquakes.

Reports say more than 5,000 people have been killed and thousands injured by a huge earthquake which struck south-eastern Turkey, near the Syrian border, on Monday morning. 

The earthquake, which hit near the town of Gaziantep, was closely followed by numerous aftershocks - including one quake which was almost as large as the first.

Matching donations

Intrepid will dollar match donations to the Türkiye and Syria Earthquake Appeal up to $100,000 AUD whilst covering the foundation’s administrative costs, ensuring 100 per cent of donations go directly to the Australian Red Cross.

“This earthquake has devastated communities across southeastern Türkiye and Syria. Most of us can only imagine the trauma of this scale of disaster but through supporting this appeal, we can help communities that need it the most by providing basic emergency first aid and items such as blankets and tents to help house families during the middle of winter,” said Biheng Zhang, General Manager of the Intrepid Foundation.        

Intrepid Travel has a long and close association with Türkiye. It became the company’s second destination to offer trips in 1990 and a Turkish mosque even features in the company’s logo. It has remained one of Intrepid’s most beloved destinations, welcoming over 25,000 Intrepid travellers in the past decade alone.

Today, Intrepid Travel operates 30 tours in Türkiye and has 25 local team members based out of their Istanbul office. 

Intrepid Travel only had one group in the country at the time of the earthquake, who are all safe and were on the opposite side of the country from the earthquake’s epicenter at the time, the company says. 

“Intrepid Travel was founded on the idea of using travel as a force for good and giving back to the places we visit,” said James Thornton, Intrepid CEO. “Matching donations and donating all profits from our trips in Türkiye is the least we can do for a country that has given so much to our travelers, and done so much for the Intrepid community. Our thoughts are with all of those who have lost loved ones and whose lives have been deeply impacted by this devastating earthquake” he adds.

To donate, visit Türkiye and Syria Earthquake Appeal. 

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