Türkiye Syria Earthquakes Emergency

Earthquake in Türkiye and Syria

A series of powerful earthquakes have devastated southern Türkiye (formerly Turkey) and northern Syria. Thousands of buildings have collapsed leaving people homeless in the middle of a bitter winter.

ShelterBox is responding. Please donate today to provide emergency shelter for families affected by the earthquakes and other disasters around the world.

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What has happened in Turkey?

Powerful earthquakes have ravaged southern Türkiye (formerly Turkey) and northern Syria, killing more than 45,000 people and damaging 57,000 buildings.

On Monday night, two new earthquakes hit the same area, leaving even more distress in their wake.

Homes have been destroyed or left unsafe and people have been sleeping in the open. The freezing temperatures create an immediate risk to life for people who are too afraid to return home or have no home to go back to.

In northwest Syria many buildings were already damaged by years of civil war, and that’s where some of the worst damage has been reported.

With 3 million people already displaced by the war, Syria is at breaking point. Families are facing harsh living conditions, freezing temperatures and diseases like cholera. They have faced the destruction of war, only to be hit again by these events.

ShelterBox tents being loaded onto a flight to support people in the affected areas of Türkiye and Syria. Thank you to Turkish Airlines for the free of charge flight, and to our Rotary International contacts for helping to coordinate this shipment.

How is ShelterBox helping?

SHELTERBOX AID HAS ARRIVED IN TÜRKIYE AND SYRIA

shelterbox-tent-594x314 — **Emergency Tents have arrived in Türkiye** on a free flight by Turkish Airlines from Panama. We strategically pre-position aid all over the world to help get crucial supplies to communities as quickly as we can.

blanket-680x360-1-594x314 — **Emergency Tents have arrived in Türkiye** on a free flight by Turkish Airlines from Panama. We strategically pre-position aid all over the world to help get crucial supplies to communities as quickly as we can.

Our emergency response teams are in Gaziantep, one of many cities in Türkiye left devastated by the earthquakes.

Getting aid into Türkiye and Syria is complicated and it can be time-consuming. But we are used to working in challenging environments and we are determined to overcome every hurdle. We will work with local authorities, partners, and Rotary, to make sure people affected by the earthquakes get the aid they need.

Please donate today. Your support will provide emergency shelter for families affected by disasters around the world.

Your questions answered

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Where is the earthquake in Turkey?

The powerful 7.8m earthquake struck southern Turkey, close to the northern Syria border.

The epicentre is about 20 miles from Gaziantep – a major city and provincial capital .

Powerful aftershocks have been reported, including a strong 6.7m earthquake minutes after the first earthquake .

Due to its location and the strength of the quake, it is likely that humanitarian needs will be high.

When did the earthquake hit Turkey?

The devastating earthquake struck southern Turkey at 4.17am local time (1.17am GMT)  on 6 February 2023.

A powerful aftershock of 6.7 magnitude hit just minutes after the first earthquake .

Are earthquakes common in Turkey and Syria?

This region is one of the world’s most active seismic zones and earthquakes are frequently reported.

The 7.4m Izmir earthquake in 1999 killed over 17,000 people. Officials have repeatedly warned of such events.

Who has been affected by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria?

The death toll in Türkiye (formerly Turkey) and Syria is already in the thousands, and rising all the time.

In Northwest Syria local authorities are reporting more than 2,000 people have lost their livesand 5,000 have been injured. 2,000 buildings have been destroyed and over 5000 damaged. Around 11,000 families are reported to be homeless.

Before the earthquakes, 4.1 million people in Northwest Syria were in need of humanitarian assistance – mostly women and children. They have faced the destruction of war and have now been hit again by these events.

“Getting support into Northwest Syria is very difficult at the moment. The already limited supply routes are now damaged, and the political situation is complex. The people in the affected regions will be exhausted following years of conflict. We have extensive experience in supporting people in these areas with distributions of winter aid having recently been completed, but more will be needed.”

– Alice Jefferson, Head of Emergency Response for ShelterBox

How can I help people affected by the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria?

There are several ways you can help people affected by disasters like the earthquakes in Türkiye (formerly Turkey) and Syria.

1. Donate to a charity like ShelterBox

2. Raise awareness on social media or by talking about the disaster with your friends and family

3. Stand with people who have lost their homes in Turkey, Syria and beyond. Learn about some of the world’s hidden crises and share it with your network.

Where will my donation go?

When giving to ShelterBox you are contributing to a general donation fund.

This helps us to prepare for future disasters by positioning aid around the world and to react quickly when disasters do take place.

We use your support to choose exactly the right aid for each community after disaster strikes.

Image at top: RAMI AL SAYED/AFP via Getty Images