Turkiye (Turkey) Syria Earthquake 2023: How Oxfam and Partners are responding

Together we are...

Providing clean water for people in shelters and communities

We’ve trucked clean drinking water to 46 locations and installed 40 water tanks in shelters.

Distributing hygiene supplies

We’ve delivered over 2,250 hygiene kits, that include soap, sanitary pads, and nappies so people can live with dignity.

Supporting safety checks of buildings

In Aleppo, we helped inspect building damage so families could return home.

Reach so far

So far, we have reached over 23 communities and 66 shelters with essentials such as water, food and heating.

The massive earthquakes that hit Türkiye have had devastating consequences for people across Türkiye and neighbouring Syria.

Thousands of people lost their lives under the collapsed buildings, many more were injured, and tens of thousands were forced to leave their homes fearing they would collapse. People worst affected include large refugee communities who were already living in tough conditions. Millions of survivors, faced with freezing temperatures have been forced into makeshift shelters – schools, mosques, tents, greenhouses, and cars.

Damage to infrastructure means a lack of heating and water and sewage networks have left people without access to clean water. And on top of this, people are experiencing severe diarrhoea caused by unclean drinking water and face the growing threat of other preventable waterborne diseases like cholera.

Here are just three stories of millions from families who were affected by earthquakes in Turkiye (Turkey).

In Türkiye around 1.9 million people have been forced to evacuate to other provinces and are living in tents and other make-shift shelters. Some people have begun returning to their homes but many fear the further collapse of buildings.

Oxfam KEDV, the Oxfam affiliate in Türkiye is working with local partners – including a network of grassroot women-led organizations – to reach people in Turkey with essentials. In Syria we are aiming to reach around 800,000 of the most affected people in the next three years.

In Syria our partners are responding across the worst affected areas of Aleppo, Hama and Lattakia to reach as many families as possible with clean water, hygiene kits and sanitation while installing solar lights in shelters so that women and girls can feel safer.

We know that this will be a long journey before people rebuild their lives again. On top of the devastation the earthquakes have caused; millions of survivors face a backdrop of rising fuel and food prices to their already fragile situation.

While we are stepping up efforts to support people made most vulnerable by the earthquakes, much more support is still urgently needed to help people get back on their feet.

You can help Oxfam and partners deliver emergency assistance around the world, around the clock. Donate now to our Emergency Fund.