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Turkey and Syria Earthquakes

STATUS
Active Emergency Photo/Human Appeal
DATE
Feb. 6, 2023
REGION
Turkey and Syria
Two young girls, one on left taller in bright pink outfit, younger one on right in light pink. Family with children seated in the background. Sign with Human Appeal, Americares and health center name on wall.

After the Earthquake, Survivors Find Homes and Health Care

“It’s been an incredibly difficult year for the people of Syria,” says Dr. Nihat Kashoor, a medical coordinator for Human Appeal in northwest Syria. “Millions are still trying to piece their lives back together following the devastating earthquake earlier this year.”

The powerful February 6 earthquake killed and injured tens of thousands of people in Türkiye and Syria, and forced families from their damaged homes.

Fifteen thousand people found shelter near Idlib, Syria, in the newly built community of Al Zohoor and now, with support from Americares, they have access to health care — at a fully stocked and staffed health clinic in their community.  

“In the initial aftermath, we prioritized offering shelter and food security. Once established, it was a vital priority to provide free medical care to those who lost everything, says Dr. Kashoor. Human Appeal built all of the homes and community buildings in Al Zohoor. “We’re proud to have opened the health care center in Al Zohoor in collaboration with one of our longstanding partners, Americares, and hope to provide a stable future for all those affected by the earthquake,” says Dr. Kashoor.

Photo/Human Appeal

A Clinic in Al Zohoor Changes Lives

The clinic, which has been operating since June 2023, provides access to essential medicines, primary care, trauma services, lab testing, dental care and mental health and psychosocial support. At the same time, funds are being used to help cover staff salaries for a year – in a region where health care is needed now more than ever.

In the first month since opening, the clinic has already treated more than 2,000 patients. “When I see the joy on people’s face when they receive medicine, which they couldn’t [get] before or because of the treatment they received they are relieved of their pain, it is a feeling that is really hard to express,” said Human Appeal Türkiye and Syria Country Director Ubeyd Sakin. “The humanitarian work we’re doing is literally saving lives of children, women and elderly. I hope that we can do more in the future.”

Health worker in mask, lab coat and hijab with gloves speaks with patient seated in mask and hijab. Human Appeal and Americares signage behind health worker
The Al-Zohoor Primary Health Clinic focuses on the most vulnerable individuals, especially women of reproductive age, children under 5, the elderly, and people with disabilities. (Photo/Human Appeal)  

Americares response to the earthquakes has focused on supporting services that restore access to health care for displaced families and delivering medicines and relief supplies for health workers treating survivors.

A young Syrian refugee kneels in front of rubble of a factory where he once worked before the earthquake.

Deadly Earthquakes

A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Türkiye (Turkey) and Syria in the early morning hours of February 6, followed by a second powerful quake and more than 100 aftershocks, killing more than 60,000, injuring tens of thousands, collapsing countless buildings, and posing a staggering humanitarian crisis in a region already struggling with manmade crises from years of war, refugees fleeing conflict and economic instability. It was the strongest earthquake in the region in nearly a century and the aftershocks continue with the recent quakes causing more panic and death. The death toll rose as massive rescue operations transitioned to search and recovery and the winter cold threatened survivors. The disaster affected millions of people in the region with many lacking food, water and shelter. With major damage to health facilities in Türkiye and Syria, access to basic health care became an immediate concern.

Americares continues to offer assistance to partner organizations in Türkiye and Syria, focusing on support services that restore access to health care for displaced families and delivering medicines and relief supplies for health workers treating survivors.

Updated 8/4/2023

(Photo: Jeff Kennel) Please click on the arrow and meet Abdul, telling the story of how he and his family survived the earthquake.

Our Response

Following the initial work of our Emergency Team, an Americares shipment of lifesaving medicines, surgical supplies and wound care products arrived in northwest Syria three days after the earthquake.

In the six months after the quake, Americares provided 16 local partners with $3.1 million in aid. This includes more than 22 tons of medicine and medical supplies. We have delivered wound care products, IV fluids, antibiotics and pain relievers to support 29 health facilities in Syria. Americares is working with longtime partner organizations the Syrian American Medical Society and Shafak to support earthquake survivors in Idleb and Aleppo.

A long camera shot of a large shipment of relief supplies that sits at the airport after being unloaded with three team members checking the shipment at the right. Planes visible in the background.
An Americares Emergency Relief Team receives the 16 tons of Americares medicine and supplies in Adana, Turkiye as part of a large aid shipment delivered by the UPS Foundation, Feb. 21, 2023. (Photo/Jeff Kennel)

Americares is also providing emergency funding to local health partners working in the region to help restore health services, support displaced populations and provide mental health support in the hardest hit communities. To date, Americares has awarded $1.2 million to 11 partner organizations. Funds have been used to:

  • Establish a health clinic in Al Zohoor in northwest Syria to ensure earthquake survivors, including displaced women, children and the elderly, have access to primary care and trauma services, lab testing and mental health and psychosocial support. Americares funds completed construction and equipped the facility and will help pay staff salaries for a year.
  • Fuel hospital generators and ambulances, purchase essential medicines and support  intensive care units, emergency rooms and operating rooms in affected areas.
  • Purchase critically needed medicines and relief supplies including, rotavirus vaccines to prevent outbreaks at shelters and shared living spaces housing earthquake survivors; hospital beds and wheelchairs for patients; blankets, warm clothing and hygiene products for survivors and workers clearing the rubble; and laundry containers that will allow survivors to wash their clothes at no cost.
  • Provide clean drinking water and bring WASH education to displaced earthquake survivors in rural communities in Türkiye and Syria.
  • Operate a therapy tent and a playground for children, as well as to refer survivors to mental health services
  • Build two rehabilitation centers for children in Hatay and Kahramanmaras, where psychological counselors will be available to support their mental health needs. Both centers will also have designated play and social areas for the children.
  • Provide psychological first aid group counseling sessions and educational activities to help children recover from the trauma caused by the earthquake.
  • Integrate gender-based violence services at two health facilities in northern Syria.
  • Train civil engineers in northwest Syria to use structural engineering software and equipment as well as build their capacity in Syrian building codes.

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Americares also delivered mental health and psychosocial technical assistance and online group support to frontline workers at two partner organizations in the region: In Jordan, 23 frontline workers at the Royal Health Awareness Society (RHAS) received MHPSS technical assistance; 65 frontline workers at Shafak took part in online group support sessions, which covered reactions to the earthquake, coping strategies, the mind-body connection and methods of mutual support. Americares will continue with MHPSS programming for frontline workers affected by the earthquake through October. 

Families and especially children who have lost everything face extraordinary trauma...

A teddy bear sits in the earthquake rubble in Turkey surrounded by cable, rebar and concrete remnants.
A teddy bear sits in the rubble of an apartment building that collapsed in Maras, Türkiye. (Photo: Jeff Kennel)

Identifying Medical Needs

There continues to be a critical need for medicines and medical supplies, including antibiotics, IV fluids and wound care products, as well as primary care and chronic disease medications to resupply damaged health facilities and support essential health services for families displaced by the earthquakes. Americares is prepared to meet those needs—and more.

And there are more mental health needs. Among the millions of people in need in this region are families affected by the civil war in Syria, including Syrian refugees living in southern Türkiye (Turkey). Many earthquake survivors have also experienced trauma from the war and are now displaced yet again, facing an even more uncertain future.

“Our relief workers have extensive experience coordinating large-scale shipments of medicine and relief supplies, mobilizing emergency aid in crisis situations and restoring health services for disaster survivors, and we are on the ground to help address the most pressing health needs of families affected by the crisis.”

Cora Nally, Americares Director of International Emergency Response

a child's red toy car sits in foreground in sea of contents spread on ground from the ruined apartment buildings behind.
Much of Iskenderun, a port city located in Turkiye’s southern Hatay province, lay in ruins after the magnitude 7.8 quake Feb. 22, 2023 (Photo/Jeff Kennel)

Our History

Americares has been providing assistance to Syria for more than a decade, delivering medicine, medical supplies and relief items to partner organizations in northwest Syria assisting families affected by the long running civil war. Americares supports more than 50 health centers in the region serving children and adults.

Americares has professional relief workers ready to respond to disasters at a moment’s notice and stocks emergency medicine and supplies in warehouses in the U.S., Europe and India that can be delivered quickly in times of crisis. The organization responds to more than 30 natural disasters and humanitarian crises worldwide each year, establishes long-term recovery projects and brings preparedness programs to communities vulnerable to disasters.

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