Turkey & Syria Earthquake Emergency Response

On February 6, 2023, a devastating earthquake struck Syria and Türkiye, killing around 50,000 people and leaving millions more displaced and homeless. The worst earthquake in the region for more than 100 years destroyed more than 280,000 buildings partially or completely and displaced more than two million people. Caritas has been at the forefront of the relief effort since the first day of the disaster. Thanks to the generous support of donors, Caritas has been able to provide essential support to hundreds of thousands of people in Syria and Türkiye. But despite enormous efforts by international organizations, the need for humanitarian assistance remains great some eight months after the disaster.

Caritas' emergency response has focused on providing food, water, shelter, medical care, hygiene kits, and psychosocial support to affected communities:

• Food and water: Caritas has distributed over 1 million food rations and around 3 million liters of water to affected communities in Syria and Türkiye. This includes ready-to-eat meals, canned food, and bottled water. Caritas has also worked to repair damaged water infrastructure and provide clean water to communities that were cut off from municipal water supplies.
• Shelter: Temporary shelter to over 100,000 people in Syria and Türkiye was provided, including tents, blankets, and sleeping bags. Caritas has also worked with local partners to identify and prepare safe spaces for people to stay, such as schools, mosques and parishes, and community centers.
• Medical care: Caritas and its partner organisations have supported hospitals and health clinics in providing medical care to the injured and sick. This includes providing medical supplies, equipment, and personnel. Mobile medical units were established to reach people in remote areas.
• Hygiene kits: Caritas has distributed hygiene kits to over 50,000 families in Syria and Türkiye. These kits include soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, sanitary napkins, and other essential hygiene items.
• Psychosocial support: Caritas has provided psychosocial support to children and adults who have been traumatized by the earthquake. This includes individual and group counselling, as well as recreational activities for children.

More than half a year after the disaster, long-term response for affected people is also taking concrete shape. For example, Caritas is supporting the reconstruction of slightly damaged buildings and schools. Furthermore, Caritas is helping people to get back on their feet economically by providing them with cash assistance, vocational training and access to education measures.

Thank you

We are grateful for the continued support of our donors in helping to rebuild the lives of those affected by the earthquake in Syria and Türkiye. Every donation makes a difference. Thank you for your support.

Links:

• Caritas Austria response in Syria & Turkiye (GER)

Several devastating earthquakes struck Syria and Türkiye in the early hours of Monday, February 6, 2023. The quake, which occurred in south-eastern Türkiye near the Syrian border, is one of the strongest in the region in more than 100 years. It was felt as far away as Lebanon and Cyprus. According to UN OCHA, approximately 16 million people have been affected by the earthquake, and more than 244,000 buildings have been completely or partially destroyed. Four months after the earthquake many people still depend on humanitarian aid to provide them with basic necessities such as food, clean water, and shelter.

Caritas response in Syria & Türkiye

In Türkiye, Caritas Austria provides support through partner organizations, including the distribution of relief goods in the areas affected by the earthquake. Caritas Austria's partners have distributed around 700,000 humanitarian aid items so far. These include food packages, hot meals, water, hygiene items, blankets, sleeping bags, tents, and winter clothing. Services provided further include child protection, medical support and referrals to hospitals, and psychosocial support. Caritas partner organizations, such as Caritas Türkiye, have so far reached more than 97,000 people with their emergency response.

In Syria, Caritas and GOPA-DERD assistance in the first phase focused on meeting the basic needs of the earthquake-affected population through the provision of essential food, hygiene items, medical support, and psychosocial support, as well as cash payments. Financial support in particular will continue to be necessary due to the emergency situation. In addition, in the second phase, we are also providing assistance with housing rent and rehabilitation of homes and schools. A cross-cutting issue is psychosocial support for traumatized persons. In total, more than 11,000 people received support through this response in Syria.

Humanitarian aid needs remain high

Despite international assistance, humanitarian needs remain high in the affected region. Key needs include the provision of heavy equipment for debris removal, distribution of cash, shelter and non-food items (NFIs) (e.g. tents, insulation sheets, heating materials, winter clothing), food, WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene), reception centers, psychosocial support and protection, as well as Child-Friendly Spaces, medical support and family reunification.

Links:

• Caritas Austria response in Syria & Turkiye (GER)