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Türkiye

Türkiye | Earthquakes Operation Update #5 - Emergency Appeal № MDRTR004 (02/02/2024)

Attachments

As per the Revised Operational Strategy published on 07 June 2023, this Emergency Appeal, which seeks a total of CHF 750 million Federation-Wide Funding Requirement out of which CHF 400 million is funded via the IFRC Secretariat, whereas CHF 350 million will be funded through Turkish Red Crescent’s domestic fundraising, bilateral contributions and via IFRC in-kind and cash pledges. This revised Appeal is currently 35 per cent funded, however, there is an additional 1 per cent in soft pledges in the amount of CHF 5,523,794. Further funding is needed to enable the Turkish Red Crescent, with the support of the IFRC, to continue addressing immediate, early recovery and recovery needs for people affected by the earthquake.

A. SITUATION ANALYSIS

Description of the crisis

On 6 February 2023, an earthquake of magnitude 7.7 occurred in Türkiye at 4:17 am, followed by 83 aftershocks with a maximum intensity of 6.7. The following day, at 1:24 pm, a distinct earthquake measuring 7.6 struck the same region. Adıyaman, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Gaziantep, and Malatya were identified as the areas most severely affected. Subsequently, on 20 February, the Defne district near the Syrian border in Hatay province experienced a separate earthquake with a magnitude of 6.4, followed by a 5.8 magnitude earthquake later that evening in the Samandağ district, Hatay, exacerbating the damage in an already significantly impacted region. Over the course of almost two weeks following the initial earthquake, the area recorded more than 24,000 tremors (AFAD 05/04/2023).

The death toll resulting from the earthquakes stands at 50,783 (TRT Haber (government-led news agency), 22/04/2023). As reported by the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), this includes at least 6,800, predominantly Syrian refugees residing in Türkiye and 108,272 individuals were sus- taining injuries as of 06 April 2023. Approxi- mately 3 million people have been displaced, including an estimated 528,146 evacuated by the government. Furthermore, over half a million buildings have incurred damage, with at least 264,378 (equivalent to approximately 710,000 residential units) either collapsing or experiencing severe damage. The road infra- structure in the affected regions has also suffered extensive impairment, hindering access to remote villages and districts, especially in the initial days of the disaster. In total, 17 provinces have been affected by the earthquake, directly impacting an estimated 9.1 million people according to the latest assessments by AFAD (Government of Türkiye, 27/03/2023).

The affected area typically experiences harsh winters that bring strong winds, low temperatures, rain, and snow all of which significantly impact the quality of life. To address these challenges, the Turkish Red Crescent (TRC) has been proactively tackling winter-related issues as necessary.

The affected area was home to around 1.8 mil- lion Syrian refugees (47 per cent of all Syrian population in Türkiye as of January 2023) before the earthquakes occurred. Although refugees were already facing difficulties, particularly during the harsh winter and summer seasons with extreme cold and hot weather, the earthquake has added additional strain on them and the host communities.

Governmental bodies, in collaboration with other actors, are taking the lead in transitioning affected popula- tions from temporary tent accommodations to more permanent container cities.