Anniversary of the devastating earthquake in Türkiye and Syria ...

One year after the destructive earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria’s recent history, repercussions of the catastrophe persist, particularly affecting refugees. In Syria, these effects are exacerbated by the enduring humanitarian crisis unfolding on a broader scale.

The initial pair of damaging earthquakes that struck on February 6, 2023, followed by frequent aftershocks, led to the deaths and injuries of thousands in both nations. It rendered families homeless and deprived them of crucial services such as clean water, education, and medical aid. While humanitarian aid has offered some relief, ongoing conflicts and crises, particularly in Syria, persistently jeopardize the lives and welfare of refugees.

Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation (BTCF) initiated humanitarian aid mechanisms, establishing a crisis response center within the organization and dispatching assessment teams to Türkiye. Actively seeking channels for distribution and support efforts in the disaster-stricken areas with a focus on respect, practicality and timeliness, while planning for medium to long-term assistance.

In Türkiye, a cumulative of 58 distribution was held in Istanbul, Hatay, Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, and four other provinces. Cash cards were provided to 197,181 individuals with 13,651 volunteer-shifts mobilized, and 557,651 winter supply items (blankets, scarves, clothing) were donated. For long-term plans, BTCF is currently in the process of planning and will build 3 schools accommodating close to 2,000 students in elementary and secondary school. Furthermore, a community center and welfare housing will be built to house 300 families not only affected by the earthquake but also low-income populations too.

In Syria, BTCF partnered with Doctors of the World- Türkiye (DoTW-T) to reopen a clinic in the dense population of MaaretTamsrin sub-district of Idlib, providing basic and emergency services through its Kelly Primary Health Care Center (PHCC) by DoTW-T medical staff. From April to December 2023, DoTW-T has delivered 23,644 healthcare services to 8,439 unique beneficiaries. In December, 1,400 new beneficiaries visited the PHCC, and a total of 5,341 healthcare services were provided, of whom 57.9% were women. In addition, to reach those who find it challenging to access the clinic, there is a mobile medical team to provide services. Seeing the need for basic health services, a continuation of the partnership will continue till the end of 2024.