Metallica send $250,000 in aid for victims of Turkey and Syria quakes

Metallica have sent $250,000 in aid to the victims of the recent Turkey and Syria quakes that have left tens of thousands dead and many more suffering in the aftermath.

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In a statement shared on 15 February, the band wrote, “We’re at a loss for words to describe the devastation in southern Turkey and northern Syria.” They noted that the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the region on 6 February has “reduced the entire region to rubble,” with the death toll exceeding 41,000 in live reports from Al-Jazeera at the time of writing.

The statement continued, “Two of our All Within My Hands Foundation’s partner organisations, Direct Relief and World Central Kitchen, have boots on the ground providing medical aid and food to the victims of this disaster,” adding that $125,000 in grants have been provided to the two organisations.

The quake that struck Turkey and Syria has been described by the WHO as “the worst natural disaster in the WHO European Region for a century”, with the true cost of the disaster still unknown, according to reporting by DW. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has compared the quake and its resulting aftershocks to “atomic bombs”, noting that the disaster had left most of his country’s southern region “uninhabitable”, with more than 2 million people fleeing the areas affected.

UK festival Glastonbury has also announced a special prize draw in aid of the Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal, with 10 pairs of tickets available that offer a variety of experiences including a chance to watch a band from the side of the iconic Pyramid stage and from the Other Stage on the viewing platform, a West Holts backstage tour, and access to the stage pit for one performance. All proceeds from the prize draw will be sent to member charities of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), including the festival’s partner Oxfam.