Turkey

Since September 2021, Caritas Luxembourg and its Turkish partner have been working together to provide support and legal assistance to vulnerable migrants. Following the earthquakes in February 2023, several emergency responses were also implemented.

Turkey is on Europe's doorstep and sees an influx of people of all nationalities - a reflection of geopolitical issues, armed conflict, persecution, economic upheaval and multiple crises. Most of them come from the Middle East, Central Asia, East Africa or Ukraine.

Since September 2021, Caritas and its local partner have been working to increase access to protection and assistance for vulnerable migrants in the targeted provinces. This is a population that is all too often forgotten, or one that we don't want to see, those who are commonly referred to as "undocumented" or illegal immigrants and who have left everything behind to take the immigration route to an uncertain future.

Thanks to the support of the European Union and the Luxembourg government, we are trying to give them back their lives and their dignity by providing them with practical assistance, such as warm clothes, hygiene products, especially for women, shopping vouchers, etc.; by informing them of their rights; by physically protecting those most at risk of violence or sexual exploitation; by helping them with their legal procedures to regularise their situation, etc.

The action continues in 2023 in the provinces of Ankara, Balikesir, Istanbul, Izmir and Van, and aims to ensure that vulnerable migrants have their critical needs identified and met through basic assistance, protection services, information and, where necessary, referrals to specialised local players.

Response to the February 2023 earthquake

On Monday 6 February, two earthquakes with a magnitude of over 7.5 struck south-east Turkey and north-west Syria. In Turkey alone, the number of people affected by the earthquakes is estimated to be between 13 and 20 million: more than 50,000 people lost their lives, more than two million people were evacuated from the earthquake zone; 1.5 million of them are living in tents and 300,000 in containers, often in overcrowded conditions, exposing the people concerned to health and protection problems.

The earthquakes caused material damage of around 100 billion US dollars. The Turkish authorities reported that around 232,000 buildings had been seriously damaged, demolished or were in urgent need of demolition. Electricity is still cut off in some parts of the affected areas, such as Hatay. According to the WHO, the prevention and control of epidemics is a priority health concern, as there is an increased risk of water-borne diseases in the affected areas due to water shortages and the lack of water and sanitation infrastructure.

The displaced population is also facing problems of access to food. At the distribution sites, food aid is not sufficient to meet the needs of all those who request it. In addition, the earthquake has damaged agricultural land and caused the loss of livestock, which will lead to longer-term problems of food availability in the affected areas. Disruption to livelihoods and inflation may also reduce the purchasing power of affected populations.

The Turkish regions affected are home to a very large number of Syrian refugees: over 1.5 million and many migrants. The latter are not given priority for aid, and are even ostracised or rejected in favour of Turkish nationals. It is therefore important to develop aid targeting all survivors, including refugees and migrants, in a tense pre-electoral context.

Thanks to the support of the European Union and the Luxembourg Government, Caritas Luxembourg and its partner have been supporting the affected population in the Provinces of Adana and Hatay, both Turkish citizens and migrants, since the first moments after the seismic event. Our response to the disaster has so far been in two phases:

1. Since the first day of the disaster, our partner has deployed search and rescue teams. In addition, field teams have been assessing needs, providing humanitarian assistance and supporting activities in the earthquake zones, through the provision of front-line emergency relief: food baskets in kind, shelter, kitchen kits, hygiene kits, bedding and cash aid, as well as legal protection services and psychological advice/support. Thanks to these activities, the flow of information on the socio-economic and physical changes in the region: based on the needs assessment and observation on the ground, the next phase could be formulated and implemented.
2. Since the beginning of March 2023, our partner has been continuing its efforts, particularly in the provinces of Adana and Hatay, to facilitate the recovery and rehabilitation of individuals and households through activities aimed at increasing resilience and self-adaptation mechanisms, while continuing to meet their urgent needs. It also aims to facilitate the resumption of access to rights and basic services.
3. The next phase aims to meet the basic and recovery needs of vulnerable earthquake survivors in Hatay Province and those displaced from the affected area, by improving water and sanitation needs, supporting home repairs and improving community resilience through support for income-generating activities.

This project is funded by the European Union's Humanitarian Aid Department and the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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