Death Without Mercy film screening

ActionAid and actor David Morrissey hosted an exclusive screening of Waad al-Kateab’s film Death Without Mercy with partners Violet and Action for Sama to remember the devastating impact of the 2023 Türkiye-Syria earthquakes.

The screening was followed by a Q&A session with the award-winning director, who was joined by journalist Nawal Al-Maghafi, Violet’s founder Fuad, fellow survivor Fadi and ActionAid CEO Hannah Bond.

This event was an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the tragedy so we can remind ourselves, other NGOs and governments of the need to learn from it and bring justice to the individuals, families and communities rebuilding their lives.

It’s time to take action

You can stand with survivors by: 

Following and sharing the Death Without Mercy campaign. Watch, Remember, Act.
Supporting ActionAid’s work. Find out more about our response to the Turkey/Syria earthquake and support our work.

ActionAid’s response to the earthquakes

ActionAid has been supporting survivors of the Turkey-Syria earthquakes since the start. In the days following the disaster, we launched an emergency response to meet the urgent needs of those affected; this included shelter, food, medical aid, warm clothing, heaters and cash transfers.

In North-west Syria, we partnered with Violet, who was one of the first and only aid agencies operating in this region, to conduct search and rescue in the rubble of destroyed buildings and distribute warm clothing, blankets and firewood to more than 5,000 people.

We provided seven mobile ambulances, which were equipped to provide urgent medical care for 90 days at the beginning of the emergency. In total, we provided medical care to more than 1,300 people. Our partnership with Violet also included carrying out counselling and events like puppet shows and playtime for children in the region, many of whom had suffered severe trauma. We also set up safe spaces for women and girls to prevent and respond to cases of gender-based violence.

Now, our aim is to continue championing the work of organisations like Violet and advocate for stronger policies that support local responders in times of crisis.

Death Without Mercy film synopsis

Using TV news reports, social media, CCTV, drone footage and archived material, Death Without Mercy captures the destruction caused to Turkish and Syrian communities after the 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit the region in the early hours of 6th February 2023.

The documentary is shown from the perspective of two Syrian families in the days following the disaster. At first, we hear from Fuad, who is making his way back from a business trip only to discover his home is destroyed and his wife, Safa, and their two sons are trapped under the rubble. Meanwhile, Fadi is desperately trying to get from Syria to Türkiye after hearing his family home has collapsed with all his loved ones inside.

Waad al-Kateab’s powerful documentary also uncovers how government incompetence, corruption and a lack of humanitarian aid exacerbated the destruction and led to the unnecessary deaths of many.

Meet the panel

Waad al-Kateab

Syrian activist and award-winning filmmaker Waad al-Kateab is known for her powerful documentaries that capture the human toll of war and displacement. She gained international acclaim for her debut film, For Sama, which documented Waad’s life in Aleppo during the Syrian uprising. The film received numerous awards, including the BAFTA for Best Documentary in 2020. In addition to her filmmaking, Waad is the founder of the Action For Sama campaign, which raises awareness of the humanitarian crisis in Syria and seeks accountability for war crimes.

Fuad Sayedissa

Fuad is an activist and founder of the Syrian refugee-led organisation Violet Organisation for Relief and Development. He dedicates his time to developing Violet’s emergency volunteer team and advocates for a youth-focused community resilience approach to disasters. Fuad has a very personal connection to the Türkiye-Syria earthquakes after his wife, Safa, and their two sons were trapped under the rubble of their home. Sadly, one of his sons did not make it. Fuad will be able to talk about how he was personally affected by the earthquakes, his continued advocacy for Syrian people, and how communities across Türkiye and Syria are building back after the devastating earthquake.

Safa Sayedissa

After the earthquake destroyed her home, Safa became trapped beneath the debris for a harrowing nine hours with her 40-day-old baby, Sami, and her 8-year-old son, Quitaiba. Her husband, Fuad, was away on a business trip at the time, so she was left alone to try and save herself and her family. She says she feels fortunate to be alive today but is still reeling from the devastation as her son, Quitaiba, did not survive.

Fadi Al Halabi

For the past 12 years, Fadi has been using film to capture the struggle and hope of his people during the Syrian revolution and war. He fled Syria with his family after enduring the bombing in Aleppo, hoping to find refuge in Türkiye, but his life was shattered once again by the earthquakes. Fadi lost 13 members of his family in the disaster and is now shedding light on the corruption, irresponsibility and indifference his community has faced. His mission is to honour the memory of his family by calling out the injustices and negligence that contributed to this tragedy.

Hannah Bond

Hannah Bond is a co-CEO at ActionAid UK. A passionate expert in women, peace and security and feminist leadership and foreign policy in the UK and globally, Hannah has a wealth of knowledge and a strong dedication to advancing the rights of women and girls and their movements worldwide.

With extensive experience in developing partnerships and working with feminist movements, Hannah has worked within the UK Government and civil society driving forwards innovative approaches and collaboration for a more peaceful, just world.

About the hosts

David Morrissey

David Morrissey is an accomplished English actor, director and producer. He is well known for a variety of TV roles, including State of Play, Blackpool, The Walking Dead, The Missing, Britannia series I, II & III and the critically acclaimed series The Long Shadow and Sherwood.

David worked with the RSC and the National Theatre for many years, and returned to his hometown of Liverpool in 2011 to perform in Macbeth at the Everyman Theatre where he started his career.

More recently he has performed on the London stage, appearing in the critically acclaimed play Hangmen at the Royal Court, and in Julius Caesar at The Bridge Theatre where he took on the role of Marc Antony. And he has just finished performing in a Pinter double bill at the Theatre Royal Bath.

David recorded the first series of his podcast Who Am I This Time in 2020 and it is now in its third series. David has most recently appeared in the new sitcom Daddy Issues and the second season of Sherwood, both on the BBC.

Nawal Al-Maghafi

Nawal Al-Maghafi is a broadcast journalist, documentary maker and news presenter. She has been reporting for the BBC from around the globe for over a decade. Her work has featured on the BBC Two’s This World documentary strand, BBC One’s Panorama programme, the News at Ten and across the BBC World Service. The investigative films she has reported on and produced have been recognised with multiple international awards, including 3 Emmys, 2 RTSs and the UNs Leo Navas Award amongst others. Her work has varied from covering the human impact of conflict in some of the world’s most hostile environments, the rise of ISIS and counter-terrorism campaigns in the Middle East, as well as significant social issues such as mental health, child sex abuse and climate change. She is now the Senior International Investigations Correspondent for the BBC.

Our partners

A still from the film Death Without Mercy. Waad al-Kateab

Page updated 28 November 2024