Initial Situation
On 6 February 2023, earthquakes with a magnitude of up to 7.8 struck northern Syria and south-eastern Türkiye, causing widespread devastation. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) estimates that around 15.7 million people in the region have been directly affected by the earthquakes. The tremors also destroyed or damaged more than four million buildings. According to official figures, around 59,000 people died.
The current crisis response efforts are insufficient and are mainly focused on short-term results. Approaches which build resilience and capacities at local level, and which consider, in particular, women and marginalised people in all their diversity, are still lacking. The resilience of the population, especially women, is low in the context of crisis management.
Objective
In selected earthquake-affected areas in Syria and Türkiye, the resilience of the population – especially women – has been increased so that people can better deal with crises.
Approach
The project focuses on three key fields of action in its work to empower the population to deal with the impacts of the earthquakes:
- It improves access to education and health services by rehabilitating damaged infrastructure. In addition, staff in education and health are trained to improve the quality of services.
- It provides support to households affected by the earthquake by giving them access to financial services. Furthermore, small businesses are receiving micro-credits. In addition, skills development measures are being carried out, in particular for women.
- It promotes crisis management in communities. So-called first responders are empowered to act appropriately and collectively in the event of future earthquakes and other disasters and crises.