TÜRKIYE AND SYRIA EARTHQUAKE

 

Our teams in Türkiye and Syria are working around the clock to support those in need

This is the world’s worst earthquake in a decade and the worst earthquake in Turkiye in nearly 100 years. The scale of death and devastation is unimaginable and will only continue to rise. Some places have become mass graveyards.

 Many survivors are now homeless, forced to sleep in their cars or outside in the bitter winter cold.

Oxfam Emergency Response

As part of Oxfam emergency response, we're continuing to work with partners to provide essentials like water, food, toilets and showers.

But we're not stopping there!

In the first six months of our response, we plan to install at least 1,000 toilets, showers, and tap stands to support families affected by the disaster.

Our teams in Turkiye and Syria are working around the clock to support those in need. There is no time to waste. 

They are experienced, having responded to the 1999 earthquake, but are now facing new hurdles in getting aid to those who need it, including destroyed roads and an unprecedented scale of devastation. 

The affected area is huge, approximately 99,362 km2

Together with our partners in Turkiye and Syria, we are working to reach nearly 2 million people – 10 percent of the population affected by the quake – with essential aid and support so that they can rebuild their lives.

Getting aid to earthquake survivors in Türkiye and Syria

Meet the people directly impacted by the earthquakes.

MEET EMINE OGUZ

Emine Oguz, 60, says she jumped from her bed when the earthquake hit her home in Gaziantep, in southern Türkiye (Turkey).

Somehow she and her two sons, daughter in law, and two grandchildren managed to get outside, where they watched everything shake violently for two hours. Eventually, the freezing temperatures outside outweighed the danger in their home, and her elder son dashed inside to quickly grab some blankets. A neighbour suggested they go to the Middle East Exhibition Centre to escape the cold.

The Oguz family from Gaziantep

Photo: Tineke D'haese/Oxfam

Photo: Tineke D'haese/Oxfam

Oguz, 60, has lived through two other earthquakes in her life, but says

“This one was different, this one was terrible.”

She says when she is sitting down, it feels like her legs are shaking. “My legs don’t work how they used to,” she says between tears. Her son was the only member of the family who was working, he is a baker. His employer died in the earthquake and the building lost, he has lost his house, his friends, and his job.

MEET MÜNEVVER TUVARLAK

And the affected people include the staff of Oxfam KEDV, the Oxfam affiliate in Türkiye: Münevver Tuvarlak, 35, says she and her husband and two children fled their fourth-floor apartment in Gaziantep after the second large earthquake.

“We stayed in the car for about six hours after the earthquake.”
“I remember looking at the garden shake and thinking, this shouldn’t happen, gardens don’t shake like this."
Oxfam KEDV staff member Münevver Tuvarlak and her family

Oxfam KEDV staff member Münevver Tuvarlak and her family. Photo: Tineke D'haese/Oxfam

Oxfam KEDV staff member Münevver Tuvarlak and her family. Photo: Tineke D'haese/Oxfam

She and her family are sheltering at Oxfam KEDV’s office, where she and other staff have already facilitated the provision of food, shelter, blankets and psychological support to some of most affected areas including Gaziantep, Hatay, and Mardin.

For many years, Oxfam KEDV has worked closely with a network of grassroot women-led organisations, and plans to continue this collaboration to reach up to 1.5 million people over the next three years, distributing food, cash, clean water and hygiene items; repairing water and sanitation systems and raising awareness of the threats of deadly diseases; and helping to protect vulnerable women and children from violence.

MEET Zeynep Çivi

Earthquake Survivor and Community Mobiliser

"I felt that the earth was moving but I thought it would be okay. I was not afraid. Then I realised it was a huge crisis."
"Our family house collapsed completely."

"Now I work for the community. I'm a Community Mobiliser and I support various activities such as distributing aid items, providing information to the community, and collecting feedback from affected individuals."

Zeynep's story is one of resilience and strength. Despite losing her home, she remains optimistic and committed to helping others. As a community mobiliser, she is making a positive impact on the lives of those around her. Her work in the monitoring program is crucial to understanding the needs of the affected community and ensuring that aid efforts are targeted where they are needed most.

Thousands of families are in need of support, and organisations like ours are working hard to provide aid and assistance. We are grateful for the support of community mobilisers like Zeynep, who are the backbone of our efforts. Their commitment and dedication to helping others is truly inspiring.

MEET AZIZA AHMED

Aziza Ahmed (26) has three children. She has a son and two daughters. She lives with her father-in-law and wider family members in Gazitenenp city. Her husband left seven months ago, and she has been supporting her family by working part time in a factory.

She told us that she jumped out of bed when the earthquake struck and grabbed her children, everyone was screaming and crying. They were so very scared. As they were making their way out of the house, they watched as the their family home collapsed behind them.

Aziza Ahmed's family. Photo: Tineke D'haese/Oxfam

Aziza Ahmed's family. Photo: Tineke D'haese/Oxfam

They immediately felt the cold, it was freezing but they had all left without any warm clothing. Her neighbour is kindly letting them use their bathroom, but they are cooking on an open fire and sleeping in sub zero temperatures.

“We don’t think about the future, living through this we are only surviving.”

MEET BERFIN AKDENIZ

At an industrial park on the outskirts of Gaziantep, Berfin Akdeniz, 18, is at a distribution center, sorting through baby grows (onesies) and nappies (diapers), a reminder of who some of the most vulnerable survivors are. These and other aid items are destined for a local hospital. Outside, a steady stream of cars and vans pull up outside, and the drivers report where aid is needed the most. Snow covers the ground as Turkish soldiers check everyone arriving at the warehouse.

This distribution centre is operated jointly by local aid groups, the government aid agency AFAD, and larger aid organizations like Oxfam KEDV. Akdeniz, a recent high school graduate planning to attend university to become a teacher, is volunteering here along with some of her friends. As part of their work to facilitate the delivery of aid to affected people, they check and recheck all the items about to go out the door.

“My family and friends are safe,” Akdeniz says. She is there “to show solidarity” with all those who are more unfortunate. “I am here because I need to be.”



TÜRKIYE AND SYRIA EARTHQUAKE

Our teams in Türkiye and Syria are working around the clock to support those in need. There is no time to waste.

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