Six months have elapsed since the catastrophic February 6 earthquakes shook southern Turkey and northern Syria, and recovery and rebuilding are still taking place in both countries as people work to reconstruct their lives in many areas.
On Feb. 6, 2023, a devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake and the aftershocks that followed reverberated through multiple provinces of Turkey and Syria, and the combined impact of the earthquakes killed more than 50,000 people and injured more than 100,000. Hundreds of thousands were displaced by dangerous and uninhabitable buildings and forced into temporary shelters.
Immediately after the earthquake, Direct Relief dispatched medical aid to assist with the first phase of the emergency, search and rescue efforts. The organization provided field medic packs for triage care, as well as emergency funds for search and rescue operations, and mobilized requests for medical aid from Turkey’s Ministry of Health and local organizations in both Turkey and Syria, providing health services to impacted communities.
As the region moves through the recovery phase, many people remain internally displaced from their homes, including healthcare staff remaining in the region. Hot and dry weather has created challenging conditions for those living in temporary encampments without access to air conditioning, and basic needs for clean water and power remain.
Access to mental health support, rehabilitation services for people injured by the earthquakes, and maternal and reproductive health needs remain high. Direct Relief is focusing on these areas for long-term recovery by directing funding and financial support for the continued strengthening of the health system.
In the six months since the earthquake, the organization has provided more than $4.6 million in financial assistance to groups providing essential health services in Turkey and Syria. Direct Relief has also provided 550 tons of medical aid, valued wholesale at $90.2 million, to support the work of health workers in the wake of the earthquakes.
