UNDP Türkiye Earthquake Response Campaign: Save the Legacy

Southern Türkiye is abundant in richly textured monuments and multicultural traditions. This region is the “cradle of human civilization,” containing the birth place of prophets of three world religions – Judaism, Christianity, and Islam – whose adherents have lived in coexistence for centuries. And now the rich cultural heritage that has defined this region is at risk and needs our urgent protection.

The catastrophic earthquakes on February 6th in southern Türkiye resulted in the tragic loss of over 50,700 lives and the destruction of more than 313,000 buildings. This disaster left 3.3 million individuals without homes and affected an area of 110,000 sq km across 11 provinces, which is home to a population of 15.6 million."

Beyond the immense loss of human life, the earthquakes have also taken a priceless legacy: monuments and traditions that have been central to diverse cultures since antiquity. From archaeological sites of ancient civilizations to restored Ottoman-era marketplaces and arcades still in use, the earthquakes damaged or completely destroyed 3,752 out of 8,444 historical structures across the 11 provinces. In the immediate aftermath, UNDP funded urgent protection to endangered artifacts by providing museum containers and preservation equipment and partnering with the private sector.The restoration of cultural assets is not only vital to Türkiye’s rich cultural mosaic but also crucial for the sustainable development of the region and our shared future. In the face of such devastation, restoring our cultural heritage emerges as a pivotal step towards bringing our communities back, rebuilding lives and restoring livelihoods. By preserving both tangible and intangible heritage, we pave the way for the revival of age-old practices, traditional crafts, and life as it once was.

Today, we call upon you to stand with us. Let us unite to save our shared legacy. Your contribution is not just a donation; it is a commitment to bringing the mosaic of civilizations that define our cultural identity back together again. Your donation will support the revival of the region’s cultural heritage and help these communities to actively rebuild and to thrive.

Be a part of this global response – donate now and help to build the cornerstone of southern Türkiye’s post-earthquake cultural heritage recovery endeavor to SAVE THE LEGACY.