Assyrian and Syriac communities in Giessen, Germany, to host charity gala on Sunday for 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake victims

GIESSEN, Germany — A coalition of seven Assyrian and Syriac organizations in Germany is set to host a charity gala this Sunday in Giessen, aiming to raise funds for Christian communities affected by the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake on Sunday, 11 May.

The event, to be held at the St. Ephrem and St. Theodoros Church Hall, focuses on supporting Christian families — particularly from the Greek, Armenian, and Syriac (Assyrian–Aramean–Chaldean) communities — who suffered devastating losses in the catastrophic 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck southeastern Turkey and northern Syria on 6 February 2023.

Announced on Friday during a televised segment on Suroyo TV, a Syriac-language satellite channel serving Middle Eastern Christian communities in the diaspora, the initiative emphasizes the continued need for assistance. Many Christians affected by the disaster lost their homes and churches and remain in precarious conditions.

The benefit gala will commence at 2:30 PM, featuring cultural performances and public speeches. Tickets are priced at €30, with all proceeds going toward humanitarian relief efforts in Turkey and Syria.

Performances by prominent Assyrian and Syriac artists Issa Koskeroglu, Fikri Hanna, Isa Metiasoglu, and Kamil Hanna will be among the highlights. Additionally, speeches by Mitri Sören and Jens Krinath will explore the broader context of natural disasters and humanitarian responses in 2023.

Organizers describe the event as both a fundraiser and a gesture of solidarity. “This is not only a benefit concert, it’s a collective call to remember and support our people who are still rebuilding their lives,” said one organizer, emphasizing that many affected Christian families have been overlooked in international relief efforts.

The host organizations have extended invitations to diaspora members across Germany, particularly in Giessen, home to a significant Assyrian and Syriac community.

Despite over a year having passed since the earthquake, many Christian communities in the affected regions remain displaced, facing damaged infrastructure, limited resources, and insufficient external aid.

Sunday’s event is expected to serve as a platform for remembrance, connection, and renewed advocacy, showcasing the enduring bonds of heritage and the global reach of communal responsibility among Europe’s Middle Eastern Christian diaspora.