Syria Cross-border Humanitarian Fund: 2023 First Reserve Allocation - Earthquake Response (7 February 2023)

In the early hours of 6 February, multiple earthquakes, the strongest being of 7.7 magnitude on the Richter scale struck southern Türkiye and northern Syria causing more than 4,500 deaths and 8,500 injuries in north-west Syria. On 20th February, in the aftermath of this unprecedented disaster, and under the guidance of the Deputy Resident Humanitarian Coordinator, the First Reserve Allocation 2023 (RA1, 2023) was launched to release at least US$50 million in two phases:

◦ EQR Phase 1 – First Reserve Allocation focusing on lifesaving immediate response, with an indicative US$ 30 million.

◦ EQR Phase 2 – Second Reserve Allocation lifesaving and life sustaining medium-term response: US$ 20 million.

Phase 1 has been completed, disbursing $36,1 million to 58 projects supporting all sectors including CCCM, Education, Early Recovery, Health, Food Security Logistics,
Shelter and NFI, Nutrition, Protection, WASH. The allocation will be critical to immediately address life-threatening needs of the affected population, particularly those of newly displaced families, elderly, women, children, and people with disability who are disproportionately separated from families, focusing on aid delivery for the first three to six months.
Phase 2 will move forward from and build on Phase 1 with a medium-term approach and particularly focusing of gaps, capacity, and geographic coverage.