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Türkiye Syria Earthquake

© Omar Haj Kadour

 

Overwhelming needs as earthquakes hit south Türkiye and northwest Syria

MSF scales up its response

 

 

Following the powerful earthquakes that hit the south of Türkiye (formerly Turkey) and northwest Syria on February 6th, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), already supporting the population of northwest Syria, has mobilized its team along with local partners to respond to the increasing needs in the area. 

As of the latest report on February 9, at least 20,000 people have been killed and tens of thousands injured. And those numbers are, sadly, going up as local authorities continue their search for survivors. 

In northwest Syria, our teams have been able to work since the early hours to respond to this influx because we already had a presence in the region for many years. Apart from treating wounded survivors, we have also donated emergency kits, and we are in touch with authorities in northwest Syria and Turkey to provide support. As many homes have been destroyed, MSF is also supporting displaced people in the region with donations of blankets and essential life kits.

MSF's response to the earthquakes in Syria 

Key data as of March 27, 2023:  

  • Relief items distributed: 84,810          
  • Mobile clinics consultations: 23,790    
  • Number of mental health consultations: 6,000   
  • Medical supplies donated: 35 tons  
  • Hospitals supported: 32  

MSFs response in Türkiye

Key data as of March 24, 2023: 

  • More than 27,000 hygiene kits distributed 
  • More than 25,600 Relief items distributed  
  • More than 743,000 liters of water provided  
  • More than 50 tones of wood distributed 

All MSF relief activities in Türkiye are carried out in collaboration with local partners as this is the model we have to use to help people affected.

 

 

 

 

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Our Current Response to the Earthquake

MSF in northwest Syria

MSF currently supports seven hospitals and maternities, in addition to fifteen primary healthcare centers (PHCs). In Atme, we run the only specialised burns unit in the area. Furthermore, MSF supports five medical points, two non-communicable disease centers and eleven mobile clinics serving in more than185 IDP camps. MSF also runs Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) activities in more than 112 IDP camps across the northwest along with epidemiological community-based surveillance in around 40 camps in Idlib and Afrin.

End of last year, we call on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to renew and extend the Syria cross-border resolution for at least 12 months, to allow the continuing provision of humanitarian aid into northwest Syria. Since 2016, MSF has shipped 8513 cubic meters (equivalent of filling nearly 3.5 Olympic-sized swimming pools) of humanitarian aid into northwest Syria – both through humanitarian and commercial channels - amounting to more than 31.24 million euros. 91% of this aid has consisted of medical equipment and items essential to the support of health facilities in Idlib, Aleppo and surrounding areas where 2.87 million people remain displaced, and 4.1 million people are in need per UN figures.

 

MSF's support for Türkiye before the earthquake

In 1999, MSF first worked in Türkiye. Until the end of 2022, we provided financial and technical support to local NGOs working with refugees and asylum seekers in Türkiye. Teams in Türkiye also give remote support to medical staff in Syria.