Earthquakes: North-west Syria: Flash Update No. 11 as of 17 February 2023

Situation Overview

“We rushed to the streets but where can we go? Where is safety?”

Mohamed Jafa is a Syrian aid worker based in Hatay, the most affected Turkish province by the 6 February earthquakes. Like millions of others in Türkiye and Syria, he was suddenly awakened at 4:17 am when the walls started to shake uncontrollably.

“Everything was out. There was no internet, no mobile network and no electricity. We only heard cries of those under the rubble yet all we had were useless hands,” shared Mohamed. He recalled hugging his six children before rushing outside altogether, hand in hand.

Local sources reported that the death toll of aid workers due to the earthquakes is over 70, many of whom worked in non-governmental organizations (NGOs) covering the humanitarian situation in north-west Syria. Many are also implementing partners of the UN cross-border aid operation.

Mohamed, who originally studied engineering, has worked in the humanitarian field for over 12 years since the start of the crisis in Syria. He came to Hatay in 2017 from Armanaz in the Idleb province and now largely works in humanitarian reporting.

“We have suffered for 12 years and many are still deprived of food, health or an inner feeling of safety. Don’t abandon the people of Syria,” said Mohamed when asked about his message to the world.

The humanitarian situation in north-west Syria remains grim almost two weeks in since the earthquakes struck. More than 4,400 deaths and 9,000 partially or fully damaged buildings have been recorded in the area as of 16 February. At least 55 health facilities have reportedly been partially or fully damaged, pushing to the limit a health system that has been overstretched by COVID-19, a cholera outbreak and other key medical issues. The UN is scaling up the cross-border aid operation, having sent more than 170 trucks loaded with aid to northwest Syria as of 17 February. Aid has so far been provided by six UN agencies including food, tents, blankets, winter clothes, medicines and cholera testing kits.

On 17 February, a total of 35 trucks carrying aid by the World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) crossed to north-west Syria using both the Bab Al-Hawa (33 trucks) and Bab Al-Salam border-crossings (two trucks).

The UN is also rapidly mobilizing resources. OCHA’s Syria Cross-border Humanitarian Fund (SCHF) has so far received pledged contributions aiming to respond to humanitarian needs in north-west Syria including the earthquake response thanks to the generous support of Germany, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

However, more support is needed given the magnitude of this crisis. The UN and humanitarian partners are calling for US$397.6 million in a Flash Appeal for Syria launched on 14 February.