7.8 Earthquake Emergency Response in Turkey& Syria

Seventeen months have passed since the February earthquake in Türkiye, and there are still significant needs in the field.

IBC has been actively involved from the emergency response phase to now working on long-term development projects. We have been operating in Kilis, Malatya, Sanlurfa, Antep, and other earthquake-affected regions, providing support to the community in the form of food, hygiene, WASH, shelter, MHPSS, health, protection, and construction.

In addition to our efforts in Türkiye, IBC is also active in earthquake-affected areas of Northwest Syria, including five camps in El-Bab and operations in A’zaz camps and villages.

Our projects cover various sectors including shelter, health, WASH, hygiene, education, protection, and construction. Key services provided include psychosocial support (MHPSS), protection services, information awareness sessions, child caravans, child-friendly spaces, physiotherapy, mobility devices, and hot meal distribution.

Attached is a brief overview of our recent activities along with photos.

Links:

• https://ibc.org.tr/TR/1748/buruk-bir-bayram-sevinci-hatay

• IBCOVERVEW_2024_APRIL.pdf (PDF)
  

International Blue Crescent Foundation (IBC) has been working for more than 20 years in disasters occurring in different parts of the world, with the aim of alleviating the difficulties experienced by all people, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, religion, belief, language, political opinion, gender, age, sexual orientation, genetic or physical characteristics. Operates actively.

In the current period, many disasters, such as floods and severe earthquakes that occur successively in different geographies, continue to subject humanity to unexpected tests.

IBC actively helps make its presence felt in the field by using its vast experience gained over the years as a compass to the cries for help rising both at home and abroad following the developments that suddenly change people's lives.

To heal the wounds of the earthquake...

The 7.7- and 7.6-magnitude earthquakes on February 6, with the epicenter in Kahramanmaras affecting 11 provinces, turned the world's attention to Turkey. While 50,783 people lost their lives in severe earthquakes that damaged buildings, workplaces, and even historical monuments that have been in the homeland for centuries, 107,000 injured people were rescued. When the day dawned, IBC began to be actively present in the field to identify basic humanitarian reliefs and needs for the Turkish people who were faced with an unprecedented tragedy.

International Blue Crescent Foundation acted in cooperation with AFAD, Kzlay, Municipalities, Governorships, Presidency of Migration Management, and all relevant stakeholders in Hatay, Kahramanmaras, Gaziantep, Malatya, Sanlurfa, Kilis, Adyaman and Diyarbakr, which were affected by the earthquake. It carried out emergency response and long-term efforts to heal the wounds and implemented long-term support projects. On the other hand, it continues its relief activities in Northern Syria, another region affected by the earthquake. IBC, which has not withdrawn from the region even though eight months have passed since the earthquake that caused one of the greatest destructions ever seen by humanity, has completed the installation of four community centers, child-friendly areas, and a mother-child care center and has already carried out many activities and also it continues.

In addition to providing psychosocial support approved by the Ministry of Family and Social Services in the earthquake zone, the International Blue Crescent Foundation, acting with the awareness that access to basic needs is limited, it also offered mobile kitchens, mobile showers, and toilets to earthquake victims. More than 2000 hot meals a day are served in the mobile kitchens established in the region. Of course, earthquake victims who did not have access to this assistance were not forgotten. Distributions were made for earthquake victims who did not have access to hot food in designated campuses and camping areas, especially in the container cities in Islahiye.

Of course, children were among those most affected by the serious consequences of the earthquake that shook the entire country. For this reason, IBC prioritizes newborns, children under the age of three, and school-age children and continues to provide clothing, health relief (including medicine and mobile services), hygiene materials, diapers, and food support so they do not have difficulties in harsh winter conditions.

The International Blue Crescent Foundation does not hesitate to lend a helping hand to problems that manifest differently in every part of the world. It continues to support the people of Ukraine and Moldova, who are victims of the war that has been going on in the north of our country for almost a year and are in need of basic humanitarian relief. The emergence of problems in healthcare, access to food, housing, etc. in both countries due to the war made the current living conditions even more difficult. For this reason, we sent our team to the field from the very first moment to meet the basic human needs of the people of Ukraine and Moldova and made great efforts to meet each need carefully. Considering that children are the ones most affected by the war, we provided English lessons to make them happy and help them gain new habits. We supported solving the heating problem in different locations in both countries. In addition, we provided the necessary construction materials, double-glazed windows and doors to restore shelters or houses. Of course, the support we provide to this region is not limited. While we continue to distribute food and hygiene packages regularly; We are trying to heal the wounds of war together with our ongoing projects such as the construction of the health center and the installation of water tanks.

The International Blue Crescent Foundation will continue to work with all its strength to continue to make the voices of people in need heard and provide support to them wherever they are in the world.

Links:

• IBC: THE RISING VOICE OF PEOPLE IN NEED