A massive humanitarian effort is underway in Türkiye and Syria following devastating earthquakes resulting in more than 11,000 deaths, making it one of the most deadly earthquakes in more than a decade.
Thousands more are injured, missing or trapped, and these numbers are likely to rise as the situation continues.
While the focus right now is on saving lives and caring for the injured, it is expected that recovery will take years.
Emergency response
The United Nations and World Health Organization launched an emergency response following the earthquakes, mobilising teams to provide essential healthcare and medical supplies in both Syria and Türkiye.
WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a briefing they “will work closely with all partners to support authorities in both countries, in the critical hours and days ahead, and in the months and years to come as both countries recover and rebuild”.
The United Nations announced $25 million in emergency funding for the humanitarian response.
Neighbouring countries including Greece and Azerbaijen also sent rescue teams to help.
However, recovery efforts are being hindered by severe winter conditions, continuing aftershocks, damage to roads and other major infrastructure and regional politics.
Syria in crisis
Ongoing political instability in Syria has further complicated the emergency response, where most people in the earthquake-affected region already relied on humanitarian assistance.
International aid is hard to deliver to northwest Syria, both logistically and politically.
In light of this, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs spokesperson Jens Laerke stressed the need for all countries to support both Türkiye and Syria.
“It is imperative that everybody sees this…for what it is: a humanitarian crisis where lives are at stake. Please, don’t politicize any of this, let’s get the aid out to the people who so desperately need it,” Laerke said.
Palestinian refugees in Syria are among those requiring humanitarian aid as a result of the earthquakes.
Implications on healthcare
Medecins Sans Frontieres International (MSF), who have also mobilised medical teams in Türkiye and Syria, reported that “health facilities are impacted and overwhelmed.”
Their teams have been working “around the clock” since the first hours of the disaster.
MSF has responded by providing medical staff and supplies to health facilities in Syria, and essential items to people displaced in northwest Syria.
“The needs are very high in northwest Syria as this quake adds a dramatic layer for the vulnerable people here who are still struggling after many years of war,” said Sebastien Gay, MSF Head of Mission in Syria. “The massive consequences of this disaster will require an international aid effort that is up to the scale.”
Children and families
UNICEF reported that damage to homes, schools and hospitals will have wide-ranging implications on children and families, particularly those already displaced in Syria.
“The displaced population in Syria is in need of food and essential nutrition services,” UNICEF said.
Their primary focus is on ensuring that children and families have access to safe drinking water and sanitation services, and that nutrition needs are met.
UNICEF are also working on reuniting displaced children with family.
Offering support
Link to the Australian Council for International Development and information about the Consolidated Appeal Türkiye and Northern Syria.
Emergency Action Alliance is a coalition of Australian charities, including Oxfam, Save the Children and UNHCR.
From Twitter
Read this thread for some of the humanitarian efforts.
See Croakey’s archive of articles on global health.
