Türkiye: 2023 Earthquakes Situation Report No. 11, as of 23 March 2023 [EN/TR]

This report is produced by the OCHA mission in Türkiye in collaboration with humanitarian partners and covers the humanitarian situation and earthquake response in Türkiye. It covers the period from 15 to 23 March 2023.

HIGHLIGHTS

• On 20 March, Türkiye’s Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) reported that the death toll from the devastating earthquakes on 6 February has increased to 50,096. There have been 107,204 injuries.

• IOM reports that 3 million people have been displaced by the earthquakes in Türkiye.

• An estimated 1.7 million people live in informal settlements, mostly in makeshift shelters or tents with extremely basic living conditions. Some of these settlements lack proper water and sanitation services and also require immediate assistance with basic household items and shelter support.

• The heavy and deadly rains that caused flash floods in Adıyaman and Şanlıurfa, two cities that were already impacted by the earthquakes, exacerbated already challenging conditions for the people living in the camps. UN agencies and partners mobilized resources to address the urgent needs with efforts focused on enhancing the resilience of shelters.

• To date, UN agencies and humanitarian partners have reached close to 535 thousand people with support for improved living spaces, including tents, Relief Housing Units (RHUs) and tarpaulins. 1.4 million people received support for water, sanitation and hygiene, and about 47 thousand people received health support. Over 345 organizations are distributing hot meals to approximately 1.25 million people every day.

• Turkish Minister of Health stated that there are no indications of an epidemic in the earthquake affected region.

• The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said Tuesday that the earthquakes caused $6.7 billion in losses and damage to crops, livestock production, food stocks and agricultural infrastructure and assets.

• A total of €7 billion were pledged by the international community at the International Donors' Conference for Türkiye and Syria on 20 March. Out of this total, €6.05 billion was pledged in grants and loans for Türkiye.

• Turkish President said the earthquakes caused about $103.6 billion of damage.  The UN launched a Flash Appeal for US$1 billion to assist 5.2 million people affected by the earthquakes. As of 23 March, it is only 18.8% funded with $189.7M.

9.1M people directly affected

50K people killed

107K people injured

3M people displaced

SITUATION OVERVIEW

Nearly six weeks have passed since the deadly earthquakes struck southern Türkiye, yet the basic needs, including shelter, water, sanitation, hygiene, healthcare, and essential relief supplies, remain high. The recent floods in Adıyaman and Şanlıurfa, two cities already grappling with the aftermath of the earthquakes, only worsened the already dire conditions for those residing in temporary settlements.

The Government of Türkiye, with support from humanitarian partners, has provided shelter and accommodation for nearly 4 million people affected by the earthquakes. However, in the most severely affected regions, an estimated 1.7 million individuals have resorted to self-settlement in informal sites or near their damaged homes, relying on tents or makeshift shelters and living with bare minimum necessities and limited or no access to services. Partners have reported a significant lack of water, sanitation and hygiene facilities in these informal settlements. Despite some relief support, people in these situations still require assistance with improved shelter, basic household items, and better water, sanitation, and hygiene services.

The Turkish Government has devised a comprehensive recovery plan for the majority of those affected by the earthquake, which involves transitioning from Tent Cities to Container Cities or appropriate rental housing. However, it is widely acknowledged that there are families who are either unwilling, ineligible, unable, or simply waiting to relocate to the government-designated pathway. These families may choose or have no choice but to stay in informal sites.

Identifying and aiding underserved populations in rural areas and informal settlements for their food security and livelihoods is also proving to be a challenge. The cramped and unhygienic living conditions in shelters are still posing risks to the well-being of those residing there. Partners also report a significant increase in cases of violence against women and girls, unwanted pregnancies, and a heightened risk of sexually transmitted infections.

As of now, the number of students who have relocated to other provinces has reached 252,000. These students have mainly enrolled in public schools located in major cities like Ankara, Antalya, Mersin, and Istanbul. The Ministry of Education has announced a gradual plan to restart formal schooling in the most heavily affected earthquake provinces, with schools in less damaged districts set to open from 27 March. The education of around 4 million children, including 350,000 refugee and migrant children, has been impacted.

The response to the earthquakes is being led by the Government of Türkiye, coordinated through the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) and with the Turkish Red Crescent (TRC). The international humanitarian community is supporting the Government of Türkiye in providing immediate assistance to the affected population.

Humanitarian partners are continuing to work together to mobilize emergency teams and relief operations in Türkiye. They are providing critical relief items like food, medical supplies, shelter, winter supplies, hygiene and dignity kits, and other essential items to support the Government of Türkiye's response and provide immediate assistance to those affected by the disaster.