Turkey and Syria Earthquake 2023
After being hit by an earthquake of magnitude 7.8 on February 6, 2023, the southeastern region of Turkey suffered two new earthquakes of magnitudes 6.4 and 5.8 on the night of February 20-21, 2023.
Support families with lifesaving essentials: clean water, food and shelter.
Over 13,700
The number of buildings, including key hospitals and intensive care units, that have been destroyed.
More than 50,000
The number of people who have been killed, with figures likely to increase.
Over a decade
This is the world’s worst ever eathquake in over a decade.
Oxfam’s response
Oxfam, together with partners in Turkiye and Syria, is working to reach nearly 2 million people affected by the earthquake.
- In Turkiye, Oxfam KEDV has facilitated the provision of food, shelter, blankets and psychological support to some of most affected areas.
- In Syria safe drinking water is being provided to people in Aleppo as well as safety checks for 220 buildings and fixing water taps and toilets for over 1000 impacted people.
Over the next six months 300 000 survivors are expected to be reached with aid from Oxfam while long-term support from international community will be needed before these communities can rebuild their lives (at least a year or two).
Why your support is needed
Survivors are facing a freezing struggle to find quality shelter, food, and water. To aid their efforts Oxfam has launched an emergency response – providing essential commodities like safe drinking-water and sanitation facilities while assisting with crucial repairs needed for homes destroyed by this tragedy.
Oxfam, together with local partners, is rallying resources for an emergency response that will provide lifesaving support including:
- sanitation facilities,
- temporary shelters, and
- nourishing meals for those who need it most during this difficult time.
Your support now is essential to save lives.
The story of Ali Dalmen, his wife Betul and their four children, from Gaziantep, Turkiye.
While describing his experience in the earthquake, Ali tells us that he and his family jumped from their beds in the early hours of February 6th:
We were shaking and we were so scared; I thought it was my last day. When I looked at the walls, I felt like they were moving towards me, so we went to a wide space to keep us safe.
Ali Dalmen
They ran outside without any shoes or extra clothing. It was snowing, but they stayed outside for a while and put the children in a car. It was so cold that the then-13-day-old baby Irmak got sick, so the family drove the 30 km to the shelter.
In Marash, we have lost some of our family members. My cousin died in the earthquake. He was 26 or 27 years old, and my cousin’s nephew was 11. We lost my brother-in-law, also.
Ali Dalmen
Türkiye (Turkey) and Syria earthquake FAQ
What happened in in Türkiye (Turkey) and Syria?
On 6 February 2023, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck in Turkey’s southeast region at 4:17AM local time (GMT+3). The epicentre of the earthquake was 34km west of the city of Gaziantep in Kahramanmaras province’s Pazarcik district. The initial 7.8 magnitude earthquake was followed by a number of aftershocks, with many aftershocks measuring magnitudes higher than 6.0.
Following these aftershocks, a second 7.6 magnitude earthquake took place at 13:24PM (GMT+3).
The earthquakes were felt across the southeast region of Turkiye, as well as in neighbouring countries including Syria and Lebanon.
This is the biggest earthquake in Turkiye since 1939.
What impact did the earthquake in Turkey and Syria have?
The earthquake has affected 10 provinces in Turkiye, namely Kahramanmaras, Gaziantep, Osmaniye, Hatay, Sanliurfa, Diyarbakir, Malatya, Adiyaman, Kilis, and Adana.
More than 40,000 people in southern Turkey and northern Syria are now known to have been killed and the death toll is expected to rise as search and relief efforts at the sites of collapsed buildings continue in the coming days and weeks.
According to the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD)22,168 people have been injured, and over 13,000 buildings have collapsed. The earthquakes have coincided with a snowstorm that is forecasted to continue across Turkey and the wider region in the coming days, leaving people to fend for themselves in the cold weather.
In an announcement made at 15:00 on 7 February, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced a state of emergency for 3 months for the 10 affected provinces.
Syria’s needs are massive. The families hit by the disaster were already in dire need of humanitarian aid in areas where access is a challenge. It was already an emergency situation across northwest Syria where four million people receive humanitarian support. Communities there are grappling with cholera outbreak, a brutal winter and ongoing conflict.
How will my donation to Oxfam help the people affected by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria?
Oxfam, together with our local partners, is working around the clock to help those most affected by the earthquakes in Türkiye (Turkey) and Syria. Your donations will help provide food, hygiene kits, clean drinking water and other necessities that many people cannot afford or access in the wake of the disaster.
How much of my donation will help the people affected by the earthquake in Turkey and Syria?
Oxfam Australia supporters can be assured that their donations to the Turkey Syria earthquake emergency appeal will be used responsibly and efficiently, with 90% of funds being allocated to providing direct assistance and aid to those affected on the ground. The remaining 10% of funds are used for administrative costs such as staffing, communication materials, shipping fees and more – all of which are necessary for Oxfam Australia to effectively and efficiently manage donations for this emergency appeal.
Should the funds raised exceed the amount required to meet the immediate and longer term needs of the people in the affected areas, Oxfam Australia will direct donations to our International Crisis Fund to enable us to rapidly address emergencies as they occur.
Is my donation for the earthquake in Turkey and Syria tax deductible?
Yes, any donation of $2 or more to Oxfam is tax deductible in Australia. Oxfam Australia is endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient.
