On Feb. 6, 2023, a major earthquake struck northwestern Syria and southeastern Türkiye. It registered a magnitude of 7.8, followed by a 7.5 magnitude quake about 60 miles southwest. The region experienced hundreds of aftershocks. A total of 11 provinces were affected in Türkiye, according to World Vision. The earthquake impacted an estimated 9.1 million people in Türkiye, with more than 50,000 lives lost, 3 million people displaced and nearly 300,000 buildings destroyed. The country had not faced a similar disaster since 1999 when a 7.6 magnitude earthquake hit Istanbul, killing more than 17,000 people.

Syria lost about 6,000 people to the earthquake, primarily in Idlib and Aleppo. The earthquake destroyed more than 10,000 buildings, including many schools and displaced 265,000 people, forcing them into temporary shelters. Overall, the World Bank estimates the damages at $34 billion for Türkiye and $5 billion for Syria. This disaster has compounded the displacement crisis in Syria, where millions were already displaced due to the ongoing civil war. Furthermore, the World Bank projects that the rebuilding costs could escalate to approximately $100 billion.

Immediate Impact of the Earthquake in Syria

On Feb. 8 and 9, 2023, the World Vision Syria Response team conducted a rapid assessment in Idlib and Aleppo to quickly gauge the immediate needs of those affected by the earthquake. The assessment involved 322 randomly selected participants from 25 different villages. Key findings indicated that the most urgent personal needs were for beds, cooking supplies, blankets, food and clothing. Additionally, 87% of respondents reported safety concerns, primarily due to low lighting, injuries or hazards from collapsed buildings and distress. Regarding shelter, 82% found refuge with family, friends or in camps. In addition, the survey revealed that 94% of participants had damaged homes, with 51% reporting their homes destroyed.

Long-term Economic Impact in Türkiye

The earthquake affected poverty rates in Türkiye. The Borgen Project reached out to a World Vision representative based in Canada, who wishes to be anonymous. When asked about the impact of the earthquake on poverty, the representative confirmed it worsened the situation, explaining, “Especially as these people were already facing a situation of protracted crises, the earthquake led to displacement, which resulted in the loss of capital stock and household wealth.”

Disaster Philanthropy reports that in the earthquake-affected provinces of Türkiye, about 40% of households live below the poverty line, compared to 32% nationwide. This rate could rise to more than 50%. A year after the disaster, many affected areas in Türkiye still lie in ruins. An estimated one in three children remain homeless, living in temporary shelters. As of Feb. 2024, about 660,000 children are still displaced, residing in small tents or metal containers that offer minimal protection from the elements.

In Syria, the ongoing conflict compounds the hardships for children in the wake of the earthquake. In addition to the conflict, they struggle with an economic crisis that has further damaged schools and hospitals. This situation leaves many without access to food and shelter. The United Nations (U.N.) World Food Programme has had to suspend aid in earthquake-affected areas due to the conflict.

World Vision’s Syria Türkiye Emergency Response

World Vision’s Syria Türkiye Emergency Response (STER) has assisted nearly 2.5 million people. It implemented 15 projects in Northwest Syria, addressing needs such as health services, water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH) and rebuilding schools. The organization also implemented psychological support services to aid recovery from trauma, particularly for children. This support has reached more than 1,300 students in schools. A notable case involved a 9-year-old girl who was terrified of returning to school after her house collapsed during her studies. She expressed “I am afraid to go to school. I don’t want the building to fall down when I start studying again”  With the help of World Vision adding mental health support sessions in schools, she has returned to school and is showing considerable improvement.

The anonymous source from World Vision also reports that the organization has assisted 114,064 people in Northwest Syria and 5,937 in Türkiye from the time of the initial disaster to the present. The source also highlighted the enhancement of mental health support, stating, “Following the earthquake, we also provided additional funding to World Vision Syria from private non-sponsorship donations with the goal to reach 9,846 people with psychosocial support.”

Looking Ahead

World Vision has assisted millions through the Syria Türkiye Emergency Response (STER) and other projects, helping citizens of both countries to recover. The Borgen Project inquired about the expected duration of the earthquake recovery efforts. The organization explained that while the initial emergency response has concluded, its focus is now on recovery and building resilience. It shared an excerpt from its strategy plan, which states that it will continue with STER and incorporate it into other projects running from Oct. 2023 until Sept. 2025. This timeline gives the organization an additional 13 months to continue making a difference in the lives of the people in Syria and Türkiye.

– Sabrina Betterly

Sabrina is based in Drums, PA, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr