A powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake devastated southern Turkey and northern Syria on 6 February 2023. The earthquake was so strong that it was also felt in neighbouring countries. The total death toll passed 52,000 people, and some 1.5 million people have been left homeless. Nearly 26 million people have been impacted by that massive natural disaster in some way.

The Polish Humanitarian Action responded very fast and started to provide support on the ground.

The Emergency Response Team at PAH arrived to the most devastated region already on the third day after the catastrophe. We started our efforts in Gaziantep by distributing kits comprising hygiene supplies, water and blankets. We also provided hot meals to people in Gaziantep and a town located nearby in the mountains. Over the following few days, we also delivered mattresses to people staying in temporary shelters and tents in Gaziantep, Nurdagi, Nizip and other locations. At the same time, we provided essential hygiene articles, underwear, sanitary pads and diapers (to the people in the town of Sanliurfa which was heavily damaged by the earthquake, among others).

In Syria, we supported mobile soup kitchens that serve hot meals to people in need. We distributed thermal underwear, fleece jackets for children, sanitary pads, diapers and wet wipes.

While giving aid, we have cooperated with local partners, International Humanitarian Relief (IHR) and Orange Foundation which work in Turkey and Syria – that way, we are able to provide relief more effectively and efficiently.

As part of the relief efforts in Turkey and Syria, we helped 154,441 people (131,252 in Turkey, and 23,189 in Syria).

Relief distributions (Syria, Turkey):

Products distributed among the individuals devastated by the earthquakes:

• 4,000 mattresses,
• 2,100 blankets,
• 50 tents,
• personal hygiene products: diapers, sanitary pads, soap, disinfectants, and wet wipes,
• thermal underwear,
• fleece jackets,
• hot meals,
• ready-to-eat food, and
• bottled water.

Reception centres (Syria)

In Syria, we set up six temporary reception centres for people who lost their homes. Staying in the reception centres is safer and more comfortable than in the tents. The centres are equipped with rooms for women and men, kitchens and sanitary equipment. Currently, there are 300 people staying in the reception centres. The project was implemented in collaboration with Better Shelter. 

Access to water and sanitation facilities (Syria)

We implemented a medium-phase project in the Idlib muhafaza in northwestern Syria, in which 81,116 people regained access to clean and safe to drink water. We built a 100m3 tower water reservoir in Hazzanu village. In turn, we erected a 300m3 tank in Jisr ash-Shughur, which is powered by ernergy obtained through solar panels.

The support included local residents, as well as internally displaced persons.

We relized the activities with a local partner, WATAN Foundation.

Livelihood restoration

We are currently implementing a medium-term project in the muhafazas of Idib and Aleppo in northwestern Syria to restore livelihoods to the local community. The project covers 60 families (300 people) who have taken up residence in the collective centers we have established. As part of the project, participants/women will receive vocational training and cash grants to start/develop businesses.

Operation with local partner, International Humanitarian Relief.

We would not have been able to achieve all this, had it not been for your donations to our bank accounts and to those fundraisers:

https://www.siepomaga.pl/pah-turcjasyria

https://pomagamy.pah.org.pl/participant/spolecznosc-kiks-dla-syrii-i-turcji-2023

Thank you for supporting us.