Disaster Response Turkey Project #58607

Turkiye & Syria Earthquakes Response

by Project HOPE

Project Report | Mar 27, 2024
Turkiye & Syria Earthquakes Response

By Camdyn Adams | Senior Development Coordinator

Donated containers in Kahramanmaras.

Project HOPE Response

Within hours of the first earthquake, Project HOPE’s emergency response team was mobilized to provide essential non-food items to the impacted populations. Project HOPE, with a local office in Gaziantep, Türkiye, committed to a collaborative response involving multiple stakeholders, focusing on delivery of crucial services such as water, sanitation, healthcare, mental health support, and protection to those impacted by the earthquakes. Project HOPE played a pivotal role during the emergency response phase by working closely with local government and other local organizations to identify pressing needs and priorities, ensuring thesubstantial provision of essential materials and equipment. This included incubators, temporary shelter containers, medicines, hygiene kits, blankets, assistive devices, generators, and solar water chlorination systems. These supplies played a crucial role in fortifying the healthcare system and offering support to the dedicated healthcare workers on the ground.

As part of Project HOPE's commitment to locally led development, partnerships were established with several local humanitarian organizations in Türkiye and northwest Syria to provide critical services during both the emergency phase and recovery phase of the disaster. These services included primary healthcare, MHPSS, and protection services for the affected population. Since the beginning, Project HOPE’s approach was to implement a response strategy which sought to support both affected individuals and bolster the healthcare system as the affected communities recover.

Project HOPE’s accomplishments over the full response effort included: establishing 70 container units to provide immediate shelter, supplying 23 Interagency Emergency Health Kits (IEHKs), providing 50 solar water chlorination systems, distributing over 28,000 hygiene kits, conducting over 33,000 medical consultations, and over 7,000 protection or MHPSS consultations. Project HOPE estimates over 500,000 individuals directly benefited from our response efforts and programing.

Overall Accomplishments

In the realm of humanitarian aid, substantial progress has been achieved across various sectors, contributing to the well-being of individuals affected by the two massive earthquakes.

In the health sector, the provision of 39 incubators, 30 oxygen cylinders, 10,616 medical items and supplies, 3,540 units of medicine, seven generators, 250 assistive items, 10 bedside monitors, and 23 IEHKs has addressed critical healthcare needs in both Türkiye and northwest Syria, greatly bolstering medical capacities and cumulatively reaching an estimated 361,589 beneficiaries.

In the shelter sector, efforts centered around improving living conditions for healthcare workers and service providers in the affected region. The allocation of 70 containers, along with 750 sleeping bags and 2,500 regular and thermal blankets in Türkiye, valued at $507,000, provided immediate relief to 3,424 individuals and contributed to a broader impact, enhancing living conditions for those first responders.

In the WASH sector, vital initiatives were implemented to ensure access to clean water and sanitation facilities. The installation of 50 solar water chlorination systems in Türkiye,valued at $55,000, directly benefited 37,308 individuals. Moreover, the distribution of 28,500 hygiene kits, encompassing family, baby, and female dignity items, in Türkiye addressed essential WASH needs for 77,660 people. The continued provision of WASH items has contributed to the lives of 114,968 beneficiaries.

As a result of our efforts, a total of 46,385 emergency response interventions, valued at over $1,308,500, positively impacted the lives of 479,981 beneficiaries. Project HOPE's humanitarian endeavors have alleviated diverse needs and fostered well-being in the lives of those facing challenging circumstances. Through robust local partnerships, Project HOPE has successfully extended support across various sectors, bringing essential aid to those facing challenging circumstances in the aftermath of the emergency.

Ongoing Needs and Sustainability

There are ongoing and significant needs in the earthquake-affected areas. Many cities, especially those hit hardest by the earthquake, continue to tear down inhabitable buildings. Formal container sites are expected to remain for years. These settlements, and the people living in them, continue to require substantial support to keep things running smoothly and prevent diseases from spreading. Moreover, the affected population, especially those living in makeshift and informal containers, also require winterization support during the cold winter conditions.

The impact of the earthquakes goes beyond physical injuries and property damage and has left a deep psychological mark on the affected population. The sudden and traumatic nature of the disaster has led to high levels of stress, anxiety, and fear among survivors and those who suffered the loss of loved ones. Displacement, loss of homes and possessions, and being confronted with an uncertain future have all added to the psychological distress that impacted individuals are facing. For Syrian refugees, already dealing with the effects of conflict in their home country, this crisis adds to their already heavy burden.

The donated equipment, supplies, and non-food items will continue to serve the affected populations and support efforts to strengthen the health systems in these regions. Project HOPE's ongoing humanitarian response involves maintaining this commitment to ensure the protection, well-being, and recovery of these communities, with the goal of creating a safer and more resilient future for all.

Generators donated to Gaziantep health directorate

Distribution of hygiene kits in Hatay

Medical exam conducted by MMU staff

Psychosocial support session carried out by Sened

Links:

Earthquake in Turkiye & Syria: How To Help

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Dec 4, 2023
Turkiye & Syria Earthquakes Response

By Camdyn Adams | Senior Development Coordinator

Situation Overview

On February 6, 2023 two earthquakes with magnitudes of 7.7 and 7.6 struck Türkiye and Syria,causing extensive damageand impacting 26 million people. The earthquakes in Türkiye had an impact on 11 provinces: Adana, Adyaman, Diyarbakr, Elazg, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaras, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye, and Sanlurfa, which are home to a total of 14 million people, including 1.8 million migrants. Among those impacted, 7.1 million individuals were living in the areas most severely affected by the earthquakes, consisting of 6.3 million local residents and 800,000 migrants. The number of casualties in Türkiye exceeded 51,000 individuals. Two weeks later on February 20, 2023, southern Türkiye experienced another earthquake with a magnitude of 6.3, resulting in more fatalities and injuries. In Northwest Syria, the death toll exceeded 5,900, with 11,200 individuals sustaining injuries. These earthquakes affected approximately 8.8 million people, with 473,760 individuals being displaced in Northwest Syria.

The earthquakes displaced approximately 3.3 million residents, many of whom were forced to live in shelters and tents while awaiting temporary housing. Immediate requirements for the affected population included access to tents equipped with shelter materials, as well as essentials including clean water, heating, gender-segregated latrines, sanitation facilities, garbage collection, food, undergarments, sanitary napkins, and diapers. Protection and security alsoremains a concern in most settings.

Over four million Syrians have sought safety in Türkiye during the 12-year conflict between the government and opposition military forces. Many of them had relocated to southern Türkiye and faced a backlash of discrimination as some Turkish residents insist that humanitarian aid should first serve the Turkish population before serving the refugee population. In Syria, humanitarian support is being provided in challenging safety conditionsas well as in communities where the two-fold crises have resulted in a nearly collapsed healthcare infrastructure.

Six months after the earthquake, hundreds of thousands of workers in Türkiye and Syria remain jobless, creating significant financial constraints and putting communities and individuals at an increased risk of harm, gender-based violence, sexual exploitation, and adverse health outcomes. In Syria, the loss of 170,000 jobs has affected an estimated 725,000 men, women, and children. In Türkiye, estimates suggest that workers will lose a combined $150 million USD monthly until the economy recovers.

Project HOPE Response

Within hours of the first earthquake, Project HOPE’s Emergency Response team was activated to provide key non-food items to impacted populations. Project HOPE, with a local office in Gaziantep, Türkiye, committed to a multi-actor response supporting those affected by the earthquakes, focusing efforts on delivering vital services to impacted areas such as water, sanitation, healthcare, mental health support, and protection. Project HOPE played a crucial role in the emergency response phase by coordinating with the local government and other local actors to identify gaps and priorities in order to provide a substantial quantity of essential materials and equipment. Essential needs included incubators, containers, medicines, various hygiene kits, blankets, assistive devices, generators, and solar water chlorination systems. These provisions were pivotal in consolidating the healthcare system and supporting the dedicated healthcare workers on the ground.

As part of Project HOPE's commitment to locally led development, we established partnerships with several local humanitarian organizations in Türkiye and Northwest Syria to provide critical services during both the emergency phase and the recovery phase of the disaster. These services include primary healthcare, mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), and protection services for the affected population.

Program Activities

In the aftermath of the earthquake, Project HOPE partnered with Dünya Doktorlar Dernegi (Doctors of the World/Médecins du Monde Turkey – DDD/MdM) to support individuals impacted by the earthquakes (including DDD health workers themselves) in Hatay. DDD is a Türkiye-based humanitarian non-governmental organization that facilitates access to healthcare for populations affected by armed conflict, violence, natural disasters, disease, famine, poverty and exclusion. Prior to the devastating earthquakes, DDD supportedthe needs of refugees and migrants through MHPSS services and primary health care (PHC) support via mobile medical units (MMUs). In the immediate aftermath of the earthquakes, DDD was able to apply this experience and mobilize the necessary human resources to effectively respond with the provision of food, laundry services, health services, mental healthcare, and protection interventions. Hatay province was one of the worst affected regions, with over 24,000 deaths. Most of the province's buildings, including public infrastructure and health centers, were destroyed or severely damaged. The region required a comprehensive range of humanitarian aid including water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) activities, distribution of food,and MHPSS. MHPSS has been crucial to addressing the immediate and long-term mental health needs of individuals and communities and promoting the resilience and well-being of those affected.

In partnership with DDD, Project HOPE was able to accomplish the following activities in Hatay:

Purchase and outfit five containers for shelter and housing project activities in DDD’s safe space for women and girl beneficiaries.
Purchased laundry machines (four washers and four dryers) for beneficiaries in the safe space.
Rented a Mobile Kitchen, procured food consumables, and supported the hiring of a chef to deliver cold and hot meals to over 60 responders (including healthcare workers) for a period of six months.

Following the earthquake, Project HOPE purchased and donated five containers to DDD to significantly expand their safe space operations in Hatay.This safe space was vital for DDD's earthquake response efforts and facilitated a wide range of essential activities for women and girls. Activities included medical consultations, WASH facilities,and individual and group MHPSS counseling. Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) consultations were available from DDD female doctors, nurses, or midwives and included genealogical health checks, antenatal care (ANC) consultations for pregnant women, postnatal care (PNC) consultations to reduce post-delivery complications, and family planning services.

MHPSS consultations were a key component of the essential primary health care (EPHC) package. Individual counseling techniques included cognitive behavioral therapy, emotional behavior therapy, and relaxation techniques, while group sessions focused on children. Both individual and group counseling aimed to address issues such as anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and other trauma-related symptoms. Women and girls were also able to utilize the WASH facilities which included showers, washers, and dryers. The facilities were also available to DDD staff to use after working at the safe space.

During the project, 2,102 individuals benefited from medical services and 1,633 benefited from MHPSS services provided in the containers purchased.

A mobile kitchen was rented and set up in Hatay, and a chef was hired in June to prepare and deliver meals to emergency responders and healthcare workers who did not qualify for UN food distributions. This initiative ensured that approximately 60 individuals received two daily meals while working in the MMUs and providing direct health services. The meals were carefully planned to be balanced and delivered in an environmentally conscious manner to prevent spoilage in hot field conditions, contributing to the overall support for DDD's operations.

MMU staff provided 12,807 medical screenings,provided medication services to 11,511 individuals (25% Syrians and 64% women), and 738 individual SRH services. MHPSS activities were provided to 5,334 individuals through group sessions and direct psycho-social services (PSS) consultations were provided to 467 individuals.

Links:

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Aug 7, 2023
Ongoing Support for Turkey & Syria

By Camdyn Adams | Senior Development Coordinator

In the immediate aftermath of the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Türkiye and Syria on February 6, 2023, Project HOPE’s Emergency Response Team worked quickly to distribute shelter containers, hygiene kits, and medical supplies – including generators, infant incubators, and more than 2,500 pounds of medication.

Within hours of the first earthquake in February, Project HOPE’s Emergency Response Team was activated to provide key non-food items to the impacted population. Since the beginning of the response, Project HOPE has distributed disaster hygiene kits including 12,000 hygiene kits and 2,500 baby hygiene kits. Project HOPE has procured 70 housing containers to address basic shelter needs for healthcare workers and first responders. Project HOPE has delivered 250 mobility devices and 14 incubators to hospitals in Gaziantep, Adyaman, and Kahramanmaras. To address other hospital supply needs, Project HOPE donated 30 oxygen cylinders and 10 beside monitors to the Health Directorate in Adyaman.

Six months after the first earthquake, residents in Southern Türkiye and Northern Syria continue to recover from the devastation to their communities. While the Turkish government continues to construct new housing in the affected provinces, 3.3 million people across the country remain displaced. Project HOPE’s team has identified significant needs for health services, MHPSS, non-food items, protection services, shelter, and WASH.

Project HOPE is actively committed to a long-term response supporting those impacted by the earthquakes. We are responding to health, hygiene, and protection needs in the region and planning mental health and psychosocial support activities in the affected area for survivors dealing with the long-term impacts of trauma. As part of Project HOPE's commitment to locally-led development, we have established partnerships with several local humanitarian organizations in Türkiye and Syria. Now, without the immediate threat of earthquakes, the local population needs support rebuilding their communities and livelihoods.

Project HOPE will continue to support and identify local partners to deliver essential servies to address the health and humanitarian needs of the impacted communities across Türkiye and Syria. Thank you for your support!

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