Attachments
BACKGROUND AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
-
Since the earthquakes of 7.7 and 7.5 magnitude in Kahramanmaraş Province on 6 February, over 11,000 aftershocks have been registered in the region, including two 6.4 and 5.8 magnitude quakes on 20 February, a few in Central Türkiye, as well as in Malatya Province on 27 February. The initial earthquakes impacted 11 provinces in Türkiye’s southeast region and neighbouring Syria.
-
As of 6 February, a three-month state of emergency is in place in provinces directly affected by the earthquake.
In addition, on 24 February, Disaster and Management Authority of Türkiye (AFAD) declared some districts of cities outside the 11 affected provinces as “disaster zones”. According to AFAD, as of 1 March, over 45,000 people have lost their lives, -
AFAD announced on 1 March that 332 tents sites have been established in the 11 earthquake-affected provinces, with over 358,000 tents, and that 162 container cities are being built in 10 provinces.
-
According to the Minister of National Defence on 28 February, close to 42,000 Syrians have, for the most part, temporarily exited to Syria after the earthquake, mainly to check on family and to attend burials and funerals.
-
The Turkish government is leading the response through coordination by AFAD and provincial governors. The Turkish Red Crescent (TRC), local partners as well as humanitarian organisations are working alongside AFAD.
The Presidency of Migration Management (PMM) is coordinating support to temporary settlements accommodating refugees and members of the host community, while the Ministry of Family and Social Services (MoFSS) is making available protection and psychosocial services for women, children and at-risk groups. -
As the inter-agency coordination structure is being set up, partners, NGOs and UN agencies are meeting on a regular basis to coordinate the response with local authorities and provincial directorates.
-
UNHCR is responding with life-saving core relief items upon the request of the Turkish government. These include mainly emergency shelter materials, tents, blankets, hygiene and kitchen items, solar lamps, heaters and winter clothes.