Attachments
KEY MESSAGES
• In northwest Syria, the earthquakes have caused widespread damage, displacement, loss of life, and basic service disruption. REACH data collected 9-11 February indicates that communities in earthquakeaffected areas most urgently require winterization, shelter, and multipurpose cash support.
• Based on key market functionality indicators, RNA data indicates that across many earthquake-affected areas, markets appear to remain resilient for now. However the situation remains fluid and may evolve given ongoing access constraints.
• These findings must be considered in the context of a highly vulnerable population prior to the disaster, due to nearly 12 years of conflict, an economic crisis, and an ongoing cholera outbreak.
RAPID NEEDS ASSESSMENT (RNA) KEY FIGURES
302,500 people* - approx. 55,000 households - are estimated to have been displaced, either within or from their community.
275,500 people* - approx. 50,000 households - are estimated to be in need of tents or emergency shelter.
484,000 people* - approx. 88,000 households - are estimated to be in need of mattresses, high thermal blankets, and clothing.
CONTEXT OVERVIEW
Two powerful earthquakes struck southeastern Türkiye within a span of 12 hours on the 6th of February. The first, with a magnitude of 7.7 and epicentre near the provincial capital of Gaziantep, occurred in the early morning as most people still slept; the second earthquake (7.6 magnitude) followed whilst search and rescue operations were already underway.
Estimates indicate more than 46,000 people have been killed, with more than 4,500 deaths reported in northwest Syria specifically, as of 18 February. The earthquakes have also caused significant destruction, such as collapsed residential buildings and damage to critical infrastructure including gas pipelines. Widespread damage to homes and energy infrastructure is particularly concerning given the harsh winter conditions currently felt in these areas.
On 20 February, two weeks after the initial disaster, another earthquake registering 6.4 magnitude struck southeast Turkey near the city of Antakya. This latest quake suggests an ongoing vulnerability to these shocks in the region.