Türkiye and northwest Syria: Millions Affected by Earthquakes Brace for Winter as Humanitarian Response Remains Underfunded
This Tuesday, February 6, marks one year since a series of earthquakes struck southern Türkiye and northwest Syria. Across the most severely affected regions, thousands of families continue to face recovery challenges amidst temperatures hovering close to or below 0°C, while the humanitarian response remains largely underfunded, posing severe risks for the future of millions of lives.
“In Türkiye, the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes remains palpable. Turkish and Syrian communities reside in precarious conditions, either within formal container sites or inadequate shelters near their devastated homes and neighborhoods. Many have scant access to resources and services, limiting their capacity for recovery” said Rishana Haniffa, Director of CARE Türkiye. “Compounding the situation, with insufficient funding for Türkiye’s earthquake response, people are losing hope.”
In Hatay, the hardest hit region, ongoing challenges such as water scarcity and inadequate sanitation facilities pose substantial health risks, especially for the vulnerable such as
Across the border in northwest Syria, following the earthquakes of February 2023, communities have grappled with shortages of humanitarian funding and a renewed escalation of violence. This has further deepened the suffering of the over 4 million people living in dire conditions in winter.
“In 2023, following the earthquakes, communities witnessed ongoing food shortages and a continued inflation in food prices, making four out of five Syrians in the northwest region food insecure,” said Haniffa. “The year also witnessed the most significant escalation of hostilities to be recorded in the last four years. Due to the shortage of funding, humanitarian actors, including CARE, are asked to prioritize one vulnerable life over another this winter.”
In 2023, CARE in northwest Syria reached 42,000 households with food vouchers and cash assistance and 9,000 households with ready-to-eat meals. Due to funding cuts, in 2024, those numbers will significantly reduce by approximately 45 percent and 83 percent respectively.
“Considering the increasing needs this winter, including heating and warm clothes, and the soaring prices of essential items including fuel, individuals may resort to negative coping mechanisms such as forced early marriage,
As of December 2023, the Humanitarian
“One year after the earthquakes, we emphasize the responsibility of governments and donors to promptly address the lasting impact and long-term socioeconomic risks associated with the earthquakes in both Türkiye and war-torn Syria. Without sufficient funding, the humanitarian crisis in both countries will only deepen.”
For media enquiries contact Briony FitzGerald on 0404 117 927 or briony.fitzgerald@care.org.au
About CARE Australia
CARE Australia supports women around the globe to save lives, defeat poverty and achieve social justice. We work in partnership with local communities to provide equal opportunities for women that they have long been denied: the ability to earn an income, gain access to their fair share of resources, to lead and participate in decisions that affect their lives, and to be able to withstand the increasing impacts of climate disasters and other crises. www.care.org.au
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