Dear colleagues, I am writing to express solidarity and sympathy with our members and community in Turkey and Syria. Last week saw a natural disaster of monumental proportions in our service region. For those who live and work, and who have family and friends in the affected region, this is clearly a traumatic experience. We are conscious that it is RIPE NCC members who are at this moment providing the Internet services that allow first responders and emergency services to carry out their work, and affected people to access vital information and stay in touch with loved ones. Our thoughts are with you all at this time. For our members in affected areas, we understand that paying invoices, for instance, will be the last thing on your mind, so we ask you not to be concerned and reach out if you need an extension. We will work to support you in this time of need. At the RIPE NCC, we are fortunate to have many excellent staff from the affected countries, and we will do what we can to support them through this period. Should you wish to support the relief effort, I encourage you to find a charitable organisation you support and make a donation. Again, on behalf of all of us at the RIPE NCC, we wish you strength in these difficult times. Kind regards, Hans Petter Holen Managing Director RIPE NCC