by Dorota Zadroga
On 6th February 2023, at 4.25 a.m. local time while people were sleeping, a devastating earthquake hits Syria and south Turkey. Early numbers provided by health service providers counted more than 1000 deaths in Northeast Syria alone until 11.00 a.m. on Monday, with thousands still trapped under rubbles. This catastrophic situation accompanied with a snowstorm and heavy rain is still going on, as temperatures drop to -7 degrees Celsius at night.
On Tuesday, February 7, the Polish Medical Mission decided to immediately transfer funds to the partner organization, Physicians Across Continents. The first payment, $43,000, will be used for the following activities: activation of ER and trauma surgery activities at Shamareen Hospital, fuel for medical facilities and Syrian Civil Defense machinery and vehicles, provision of essential medicines for medical facilities receiving emergencies, ready meals for displaced people and first aid teams.
An assessment was conducted on the ground and it was determined that securing the most pressing needs in northeast Syria requires: providing trauma cases to hospitals, providing fuel for generators in health facilities, running ERs in selected hospitals, providing emergency medication and consumables. Part of the funds will be used to support Syrian Civil Defense as a first responders with fuel for heavy machines and meals for its volunteers. The largest cities in the earthquake-affected region - Idlib and Aleppo - have been designated as the area of assistance.
Three days after the tragic earthquake, the number of victims in Turkey and Syria has exceeded 17,000. The World Health Organization estimated that up to 23 million people could be affected by the earthquake and aftershocks. Syria, which has been mired in a civil war that has lasted for 12 years, has very limited options for receiving international aid and using the country's existing infrastructure to provide shelter and safety for those who have become homeless. The country's ongoing multi-level crisis could worsen if it does not receive humanitarian and medical assistance.