Earthquake Turkey and Syria

It has been six months since the devastating earthquake
in Turkey and Syria on February 6th, in which more than
50,000 people died and over 100,000 were injured. And
millions of those affected continue to rely on life-saving 
humanitarian aid.

In view of this situation, the organizations in the Aktion 
Deutschland Hilft alliance are starting the next stage of 
support after the acute phase: the medium and long-term 
reconstruction of livelihoods.

“The extent of the destruction is still unbelievable”

Although construction work is progressing, rubble can still 
be seen in the huge disaster area. “The extent of the 
destruction is still unbelievable,” says head of the Middle 
East department of our alliance organization Malteser 
International.

Women, men and children live in tents, containers and gardens - or 
on the street in front of their destroyed homes. Food, clean 
water and medical care are scarce in many places.

Renovation makes houses winter-proof

Several alliance organizations from Aktion Deutschland Hilft 
support the renovation of accommodation: Help issues vouchers 
for building materials. AWO International distributes cash 
aid to renovate houses: repairing windows and doors makes 
living spaces winter-proof.

With a view to next winter, our alliance organization CARE will 
also repair emergency shelters in Syria and distribute heating 
devices. Habitat for Humanity trains municipal employees to make 
buildings earthquake-proof and provides advice on renovations.

Secure access to drinking water

For example, World Vision is ensuring people's long-term access 
to clean water in Syria by repairing water supply networks and 
wastewater systems. Malteser International is repairing water 
towers and wells in northwest Syria.

The Arbeiter Samariter Bund (ASB) has handed over drinking water 
treatment systems to the local water supplier in the Samandag region 
of Turkey and trained their employees in their use.

Create new perspectives

So that the people who have lost everything can build a new existence, 
the Malteser support farmers with fertilizer and equipment.

Our alliance organization, World Vision offers craft training courses 
in Syria and helps build small businesses and businesses. 
Cash-for-work programs, such as those offered by Help themselves, 
provide people with income in exchange for work in the difficult 
economic situation.

Strengthen the health system

Many hospitals have been destroyed and the existing ones are 
overloaded and lack staff and equipment. Medical care and hygiene 
are particularly poor in the tent cities. Children, pregnant women, 
seriously ill and injured people urgently need access to medical care.

That's why the Malteser supported the construction of a container 
hospital in Afrin, Syria, which can treat up to 150,000 patients. 
In collaboration with World Vision, the hospital began operations in 
July with the necessary medical equipment.
 
For action medeor, mobile health teams are on the move in Turkey 
and Syria, taking care of the sick in tent cities, among other 
places. Our alliance organization Handicap International responds to 
the enormous need for rehabilitation for injured people with 
rehabilitation offers in order to avoid long-term damage.

Aid organizations distribute school materials to children

Building a sustainable future also includes treating the trauma 
that many residents of the earthquake region have suffered through 
death, loss and destruction. Many of Aktion Deutschland Hilft's alliance 
organizations alleviate this mental pain through group and individual 
therapies and are expanding their psychosocial offerings.

A significant part of the work of the alliance organizations is the 
special protection of children: therapies help them to process what 
they have seen and experienced. And so that girls and boys do not lose 
valuable years of education, helpers provide learning materials and 
repair school buildings. World Vision alone distributes teaching materials 
to more than 18,000 school children.

82 million euros in donations for the people in the earthquake region

In the first six months, the alliance organizations supported over 1.2 
million affected people with acute emergency aid: helpers distributed 
food, drinking water, tents, blankets, hygiene sets and medication, 
fitted prostheses and crutches, carried out operations and supported 
hospitals , including devices and generators.

The comprehensive help was and is made possible by the great compassion
of the people who have so far donated around 82 million euros to Aktion 
Deutschland Hilft.THANK YOU!