[UPDATED] Statement of solidarity with the people of Turkey, Syria, and Lebanon amidst a devastating earthquake, especially those impacted by sanctions
[Sunday, 12th/2/2023]
Graduate Employees Organization Local 6300
UPDATE: Given the fact that our previous statement was missing some context, we have revised this statement to reflect the comments and concerns received from members of the GEO. As always, we appreciate hearing from the voices of our members and always welcome critique.
[UPDATED] Statement of solidarity with the people of Turkey, Syria and Lebanon amidst a devastating earthquake, especially those impacted by sanctions
The Graduate Employees’ Organization (GEO) at UIUC, IFT/AFT Local 6300 is horrified to hear the toll the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in southern Turkey near the Syrian border has had on the populations of the respective countries, in addition to the lesser impacted neighboring people and region of Lebanon. On February 6, 2023, this earthquake was followed by a second 7.5-magnitude earthquake, with multiple shocks following thereafter. So far, more than 30,000 have been killed, tens of thousands are injured and in need of immediate medical attention, and many others are still trapped under the rubble. Many of our friends, family, and comrades in these regions are suffering and dying. This is a calling for all humans to stand in solidarity with the people affected by this tragedy.
We write this statement knowing that for many people who want to help, they can only do so by sending funds. Yet, this tool has been politicized by imperialist forces. Whereas people can send and wire funds to Turkey, the sanctions on the Syrian people speaks to the international division of humanity. The collective West stands against any international effort to aid the Syrian people in their calamity by imposing barriers for the transfer of aid to the needy Syrian population. The ongoing proxy war in Syria and internal historical divisions have exacerbated how this earthquake is felt differently by different groups, occupying different regions of the affected area (those with certain ethnic backgrounds and/or political leanings). While the harrowing earthquake constitutes a natural disaster and humanitarian crisis of large proportion, we condemn any blockading of aid reaching any region in Syria, which only exacerbates the impacts a millions fold more on the people of Syria. Regardless of one’s position on the happenings in the Syrian proxy war, we should center humanity.
The logic of sanctions is meant to put maximum pressure on the people, starve them, in order to make them revolt against the regime and support a new, friendlier regime. This is against the 1949 Geneva Convention that postulates any form of collective punishment on a population is a crime, “Collective penalties and likewise all measures of intimidation or of terrorism are prohibited.” The United States of America and its allies have been imposing crippling sanctions on Syria for years, such that the transfer of medicine, food, medical equipment, and other commodities have been blockaded, barring the population from accessing such necessities. The financial sanctions inflict even larger damage on the population.
As we provide links and resources to help international non-governmental organizations that operate mostly in Turkey (and a few in Syria), we urge everyone to make a concerted effort to revisit the logic of sanctions that the West imposes on unfriendly countries just because their leaders antagonize Western hegemony. What is a people’s fault for being born in those contexts? Why should they be punished for their leader’s policies? Who has the right to be sanctimonious even when the normal people are suffering under the unjust sanction regime? Sanctions are a violation of human rights and they must stop. Let the world help Syria in its catastrophe. At this time, we want to recognize that the pressure against these sanctions has resulted in the US Treasury to suspend the sanctions for a specific period. We remain resolute and join the calling by the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Right at the United Nations for the lifting of all other sanctions.
The compiled links below are not comprehensive. There are many other entities on the ground that we urge you to learn about and how they impact different groups.
Links to send aid to Turkey/Türkiye
Ahbap (Foreign currency transfers): https://ahbap.org/bagisci-ol
AKUT Arama Kurtarma Dernegi (Turkish Search and Rescue Association): https://www.akut.org.tr/en/donation
AFAD (The Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency): https://en.afad.gov.tr/campaigns
IFRC is the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies: https://www.ifrc.org/donate
Links to send aid to Syria
GlobalGiving: https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/turkey-earthquake-relief-fund/
White Helmets, also known as Syria Civil Defence, is a humanitarian volunteer organization that works around the clock for search and rescue aid: https://www.whitehelmets.org/en/
Molham Team, is a non-profit organization that works on the ground with Syrian refugees & displaced persons: https://molhamteam.com/en/campaigns/439
Basmeh & Zeitooneh, is a non-profit organization based in Lebanon that provides resources and relief to Syrian refugee and marginalized communities https://www.justgiving.com/page/turkey-earthquake
Solidarity forever!
Graduate Employees’ Organization
809 S. 5th St., Geneva Room
Champaign, IL 61820
Email: geo@uigeo.org
The Graduate Employees’ Organization, AFT/IFT Local 6300, AFL-CIO, at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, represents approximately 3,000 Teaching and Graduate Assistants on the UIUC Campus. In November 2009 and in February 2018, over 1,000 GEO members and allies participated in a strike to secure a fair contract and more accessible UIUC campus. With an active presence in the community, the GEO continues to work for high-quality and accessible public education in Illinois.
For more information, please contact geo@uigeo.org. More information can also be found on GEO’s website at www.uiucgeo.org.
Twitter: @geo_uiuc
Facebook: @uigeo @geosolcomm
Instagram: @geo_uiuc