Turkey: the forgotten victims of the earthquake

Think back. Just over a year ago, on 6 February 2023, a devastating earthquake struck Turkey and Syria. With more than 56,000 victims, this earthquake was one of the deadliest of the 21st century. Hundreds of thousands of people are still living in tents, makeshift shelters or containers. Yet their plight is no longer in the media spotlight. They are the forgotten victims of the earthquake.

The region near Antakya was particularly hard hit. The earthquake caused massive destruction there, even though the region was already home to hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees who had fled the war in their country. In Antakya city centre, only 20% of the houses survived and can still be lived in. The others have collapsed or are in danger of doing so.

From the very first hours after the tremors, we were on the ground via our partner to distribute essential goods and take part in rescue operations. We haven't abandoned the victims since. We have been providing them with hygiene products and cooking equipment, as well as blankets, sheets and pillows. For several months now, we have also been protecting people living in tents from the cold and bad weather so that they can cope with the winter season. We replace the summer tents with more suitable winter tents, we provide gravel to prevent the paths from becoming muddy and impassable, we make sure that the showers have hot water and that the sanitary facilities are properly connected to the sewers. So many little things that make a difference. We also support the rehabilitation of damaged homes by repairing windows, doors, cracked walls and sanitary facilities. We also help the most vulnerable people by providing them with food vouchers and psychosocial support.

The consequences of the 6 February earthquake will continue to be felt for many years to come, and the reconstruction process will take a very long time. The victims still need our assistance. Let's not let them down!

Every donation counts and helps someone.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!

"We don't feel alone thanks to you".

Ayfer is 50 years old. She is a widow and has cancer. Faris, one of her two sons, has been visually and hearing impaired since birth. Unfortunately, he lost his hearing aid during the earthquake. The earthquake worsened their already difficult living conditions. Today, they are still living near their damaged house, in an informal tent camp, with 200 other Turkish and Syrian families. The camp has only one toilet and 2 showers, which is causing health problems.

Our teams supported Ayfer so that she could resume her chemotherapy sessions and benefit from regular medical follow-up. We also replaced Faris' hearing aid. This enabled him to continue his schooling. We also intervened in the camp and repaired the toilets, drains and connections to the sewers. The whole community was also made aware of hygiene and the need to maintain the sanitary facilities properly.

"Repairs have brought us back to civilisation".

Gülşen also lives with his two children in an informal settlement. Like many other people, her life has changed radically with the disaster. She no longer has a job, and as her flat was no longer habitable, she set up a tent in a park, where her parents now also live.

Their tent had been damaged and flooded by heavy rain. So we renovated the tent and raised the ground with wooden pallets. In this camp, our teams also installed drinking water connections, repaired the wastewater pipes, renewed all the equipment and checked the drainage around the facilities.

"Your work is so useful!

Arzu, who lives with her husband and 3 children, was already facing major financial difficulties before the earthquake. The earthquake plunged them into even greater misery. The house they were living in, which was already in a sorry state, was severely damaged by the tremors. Parts of the roof collapsed, the walls cracked and gaps appeared between the roof and the walls. It was no longer possible for Arzu and his family to continue living there.

As there was no structural damage and the house was not in danger of collapsing, we financed the repairs. The holes and cracks were filled and the windows repaired. Arzu was also able to repaint the main room. The family has now moved back into their home.