On February 6, two major earthquakes hit southeast Turkey and northwest Syria, causing more than 35,000 deaths as of Monday, making them the deadliest earthquakes in more than a century in the region. There are also more than 85 thousand people injured and thousands of buildings destroyed. In this regard, and since the beginning of the emergency, Caritas Türkiye and Caritas Syria provided humanitarian aid. In addition to this, Caritas Internationalis is supporting and coordinating efforts to assess the needs and provide assistance to those affected by this tragedy.

The Director of Caritas Syria explains that: “In our country, the earthquake has seriously affected the northwest area, in which 4.1 million people depend on humanitarian aid.” Some 5,000 displaced people, mostly women and children, have found shelter in schools and other safe buildings. The number of deaths and injuries recorded continues to increase, while the search for missing people continues in the rubble of destroyed buildings and homes. Hospitals in some of the worst affected areas were overwhelmed as they worked to treat those injured by the earthquake.

Caritas Syria is working to distribute relief items and open shelters to welcome those most in need in Aleppo, Hama and Lattakia. "It is very cold and it continues to rain and snow. Many have lost their homes and even those who still have a home do not return to it for fear of new shocks." Relief items and shelters are needed in Aleppo for citizens whose homes collapsed. The Caritas Aleppo office was destroyed, as were many staff homes.

Caritas Turkey immediately opened a telephone line at the Listening Center to provide support and assistance to those affected by the disaster. It is currently working alongside local authorities to gather information and organize its humanitarian response. In addition, Caritas teams have been gathering displaced people in safe, open spaces and trying to distribute some hot meals and warm clothing.

The Caritas confederation is combining its efforts and working together to provide humanitarian aid to those most in need. We ask for continued support and prayers from the international community, in order to alleviate the sufferings of the people of Syria and Turkey in these tragic times.

In order to support our affected brothers, we invite you to follow the following link: https://www.caritas.org/earthquake-syria-turkey/

NDP: Caritas Internationalis