Having a home remains out of reach for hundreds of thousands whose lives have been upended by the earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria two years ago, warns the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
On 6 February 2023, a series of earthquakes killed over 55,000 people in Türkiye and Syria, in the worst earthquakes the region has seen in 20 years. Two years on, millions of people in both countries are still struggling to rebuild their lives.
The long road to recovery
In Türkiye, more than 400,000 people continue to live in temporary container cities, facing an uncertain future. In Syria, many of those affected by the earthquake were already contending with compounded crises: more than a decade of conflict, economic hardship, extreme climate events, and disease outbreaks.
In Syria, the situation remains incredibly challenging. Two years after the devastating earthquake, millions are still struggling to rebuild their lives. For many, the disaster was yet another blow during more than a decade of conflict, economic hardship, extreme climate shocks, and disease outbreaks—compounding an already dire humanitarian crisis.
Need for support
Turkish Red Crescent (TRC) and Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) have been supporting people affected by the earthquake since day one. After providing essential services such as food, water, and first aid in the first weeks after the disaster, they continue to help those affected for the longer term with cash, mental health, and livelihood support.
Cash assistance has been vital to help affected families regain a sense of stability after a quarter of them have lost their sources of income. The Turkish Red Crescent supported over a million people with cash, not just to cover basic needs, but also to help revive the local economy. Micro and small-to-medium-sized enterprises and farmers received a much-needed boost to continue their business, with women-led businesses and women farmers receiving support.
Similarly, SARC has distributed multi-purpose cash assistance to 12,890 households, provided crucial health services to over 5.3 million people, and supported communities with critical water, hygiene, and sanitation for more than 5.5 million people. Furthermore, SARC provided over 20 million vital humanitarian services by distributing food parcels and essential non-food items like jerrycans, tarpaulins, and kitchen sets, among other services.
Mental struggle
The need for mental health and psychosocial support remains critical as people continue to struggle with the psychological burden of the earthquake. Many have lost loved ones in the disaster, have witnessed their world falling apart, and have lost everything they had in just minutes. The Turkish Red Crescent and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent have been providing hundreds of thousands of people with specialist mental health support.
“I miss my old life and want to return to it. I want a beautiful home, but I need opportunities to make that happen. The help we have received has been invaluable, and I hope it does not stop. The effects of this earthquake will not fade in a year or two”, says Gül Ineci, an earthquake survivor living in a container camp in Kahramanmaraş.
Both staff and volunteers in Syria and Türkiye, have endured the earthquake’s devastation, losing loved ones and homes, yet they continue to respond with unwavering dedication.
“Two years after the February 6 Pazarcık earthquake, we honor the memories of those we lost and stand in unwavering solidarity with the survivors. With the strength and solidarity of our nation, humanitarian organizations, local communities, and global partners, we have made remarkable progress from response to recovery. As the Turkish Red Crescent, we remain steadfast in our mission to build safer, more resilient communities through the power of compassion and collective action. Together, we are working to rebuild lives and ensure no one is left behind”, said Fatma Meriç Yılmaz, President of Turkish Red Crescent.
“The resilience and determination of the Syrian people continue to inspire us all, two years after the devastating earthquake that shook Syria. The SARC has stood unwaveringly by the people of Syria, providing critical humanitarian support to those in need, despite the immense challenges. While we have made significant strides in responding to the immediate impacts of the disaster, the road to recovery is long. We remain committed to supporting affected communities, not only with relief but with the long-term solutions necessary to rebuild lives, restore infrastructure, and ensure the well-being of those displaced by the earthquake. Our work is far from over, and we will continue to stand by the people of Syria as they rebuild their lives, now and in the years to come”, said Dr. Hazem Bakleh, President of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent.
