Türkiye | Earthquakes Operation Update #3 – Emergency Appeal № MDRTR004 (30/06/2023) – Türkiye

As per the Revised Operational Strategy published on 07 June 2023, this Emergency Appeal, seeks a total of CHF 750 Million Federation-Wide Funding Requirement out of which 400 Million is funded via the IFRC Secretariat, whereas 350 Million will be funded through TRC’s domestic fundraising, bilateral contributions and via IFRC in-kind and cash pledges. This revised Appeal is currently 23% per cent funded, however, there is an additional 9% per cent in soft pledges in the amount of CHF 31.182.840,00. 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

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake occurred in Türkiye at 4:17 am on 6 February 2023, followed by 83 aftershocks at a maximum level of 6.7. An additional separate earthquake of 7.6 occurred at 1:24 pm the following day in the same region. Adıyaman, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Gaziantep, and Malatya were reportedly the hardest hit. Almost two weeks after the initial earthquake, a separate 6.4 magnitude earthquake hit the Defne district, close to the Syrian border in Hatay province, on 20 February. This was followed by a 5.8 magnitude earthquake on the same evening in Samandag district, Hatay, causing further destruction to the already heavily damaged area. Since 6 February, over 24,000 tremors were recorded in the area (AFAD 05/04/2023).

According to the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), the death toll from the devastating earthquakes has reached 50,096 (including at least 6,800, most of them were Syrian refugees present in Türkiye), and 107,204 people injured as of 05 April 2023. Some 3 million people have been displaced, including an estimated 528,146 evacuated by the government, and more than half a million buildings have sustained damage, of which at least 264,378 (approximately 710,000 residential units) have either collapsed or have been severely damaged. Roads were equally seriously damaged in the affected areas, hence hampering access to affected communities in remote villages and districts, primarily in the early days of the disaster. In total, 17 provinces have been impacted by the earthquake with an estimated 9.1 million people directly affected according to the latest estimates from AFAD.

Description of the crisis

The winter season has come to an end in mid-April in Türkiye and temperatures are increasingly becoming warmer, including in the earthquake affected areas, nevertheless emergency shelter remains a priority for the early recovery period, especially in facilitating the transition of affected people in moving from tents to container cities as they become gradually available. During the early weeks of the disaster, TRC with the support of IFRC along with other stakeholders, has been concentrating efforts on emergency shelter needs through the provision of tents, tarpaulins, sleeping bags, blankets, and heating kits to cope with the winter. In the same vein hygiene and sanitation support, food distribution (soup, hot meals and food parcels), protection, health and psychosocial support were equally provided to affected people. The weather forecast for summer is already predicted to be hot and temperatures have reportedly started to increase. According to the UNHRC, NFI needs for people staying in tents and containers have to be adapted to cope with heat conditions. Hence the demand for mosquito nets, insect repellants, summer clothes, shade for tents, and air conditioning or cooling systems needs are increasing (UNHCR 17/05/2023; STL 05/05/2023; STL 26/04/2023).

The earthquakes struck areas that were already hosting approximately 1.8 million Syrian refugees, which represents 47 per cent of all Syrian refugees in Türkiye as of January 2023. While the situation for refugees was already challenging, especially during the winter period, the earthquake put even more pressure on these populations and the host communities, stretching limited capacities.