Responding to Earthquakes in Turkey and Syria

Thousands of families have been left homeless after more than 160,000 buildings collapsed or were badly damaged by the quakes. More than 2.7 million people have been displaced in Türkiye alone due to the quakes. Most of these people now are residing in temporary settlements, half of which are considered informal, increasing the risk of disease and the need for humanitarian relief efforts to ensure that the displaced can meet their basic needs. Tents are not proving to be an adequate solution for sheltering people, with scabies outbreaks being reported due to unsanitary conditions.

In Syria, International Medical Corps is currently operating (directly or in coordination with partners) 10 mobile medical units (MMUs), and has deployed a mobile surgical team providing minor and emergency surgeries, as well as referrals. The majority of consultations have been related to primary healthcare concerns such as non-communicable diseases and upper respiratory-tract infections, as well as hygiene issues related to scabies and lice. The MMUs and mobile surgical team are currently providing services in camps and shelters for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in and around the Aleppo governorate, working with a local partner. So far, the teams have provided more than 10,000 consultations in camps and affected communities. Our teams also started supporting a physical rehabilitation facility at the beginning of April, and have delivered services to more than 200 people over the past month.

In Türkiye, International Medical Corps is working with local partners to support IDPs by procuring and distributing essential non-food items, including clothing, towels, blankets, hygiene kits and drinking water, and delivering mobile primary healthcare, supplies and MHPSS services in affected areas. Through Yeryüzü Doktorlar (YYD), we have established three primary healthcare facilities offering integrated mental health care services.

In partnership with International Blue Crescent (IBC), International Medical Corps has distributed drinking water, nutrition packages, winter clothing and canned food in Gaziantep (Islahiye), Kahramanmaras (Elbistan) and Kilis, and is providing physical rehabilitation activities. In partnership with MSYD-ASRA, International Medical Corps is distributing non-food items to people in shelters, including blankets, food baskets, diapers, towels, hygiene kits and winter clothing. In partnership with DWWT, International Medical Corps is delivering mobile primary healthcare, food baskets and MHPSS services in Gaziantep, Hatay and Kahramanmaras. Since the beginning of the response, we and our partners have distributed close to 50,000 items of food baskets and non-food items, and have installed 160 sanitation facilities serving about 13,000 people living in camps in Altnöz, Antakya, Dörtyol, Hassa and iskandarun districts in Hatay province.