Syrian Arab Republic - Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) Coordinated Response Flash Update #3 - Earthquake (As of 8 February 2023)

Highlights

• 1,262 Deaths

• 2,285 Injuries

• On 8 February, the Syrian Ministry of Health (MoH) reported 1,262 deaths and 2,285 injuries, mainly in Aleppo, Lattakia, Hama, Idleb countryside, and Tartous. The number of casualties is expected to rise though as search and rescue operations are ongoing.

• Affected population (in HCT-coordinated response areas): Aleppo (2,044,627), Hama (1,224,589), Lattakia (1,162,441), Homs (134,342), Tartous (57,933), Idleb (26,787) - Total 4.5M

• Many of the buildings already damaged by the crisis are at high risk of collapse. The earthquake came as the Middle East is experiencing a snowstorm that is expected to continue until Thursday (9 February). Additional earthquakes and tremors were felt through the afternoon of Monday and evening of Tuesday (7 February).

• UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team has deployed and will arrive in Aleppo on 9 February.

• Immediate needs identified include machines and equipment for debris removal, food assistance, shelter and non-food items and WASH support.

• The Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has released US$25 million to kickstart the response. The UN with humanitarian actors in the country to coordinate the response and mobile additional funds also through other channels, since aid and supplies are limited and more support is needed to address the gaps.

• A number of partners of the Syria Humanitarian Fund responding to the earthquake are considering reprogramming of activities to redirect assistance to the affected population, primarily in terms of winter supplies. The Fund is providing the necessary flexibility to partners in line with its guidelines. Additionally, the Fund is considering utilization of contingency budget lines with the partners, which is already existing prepositioned funding, as well as top up ongoing projects funding to expedite delivery of aid. Currently, the Fund has a balance of $6 million.

• Massive impact and consequences of this earthquake on local population and infrastructure. Priority response will include actions to support all those newly displaced who will need assistance for a long time period among all other needs.

• The Minister of Education announced that 208 schools were damaged in 8 governorates 71 in Aleppo, 40 in Hama, 34 in Homs, 16 in Lattakia, 14 in rural Damascus, 2 Qunitera, and 1 Idleb, the schools are still under accurate assessment.