Türkiye earthquake
Above: An Australian search and rescue team looks through the rubble of a fallen building in Türkiye. Photo: DFAT
In the early hours of 6 February 2023, multiple earthquakes struck southern Türkiye and northern Syria. The earthquakes, the largest of which was 7.8 in magnitude, have created a disaster of catastrophic proportions, with some 48,000 people killed and thousands of buildings destroyed.
The scale of displacement from the earthquakes, which hit in the depths of winter, has left millions in need of shelter and essentials. As of 16 March, 2.3 million people in Türkiye were living in informal or formal settlements after losing housing in the earthquake. Heavy rain has impacted those living in tents and led to 18 further deaths. Lack of access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, heating and other essentials is especially affecting those living in informal settlements. Access to education has been interrupted for millions of children, with essential infrastructure damaged or destroyed. There have been more than 5,700 aftershocks in the weeks following the initial earthquakes, compounding both the needs and trauma of those affected.
In March 2023, the Australian Government announced an AUD 18 million assistance package for Türkiye, including a $2 million response through the Australian Humanitarian Partnership, which is being led by Save the Children. An additional $2.9 million was made available in June 2023, allowing additional response activities to commence under the lead of World Vision.
The AHP response
Save the Children Australia is working in partnership with Sened, a national NGO in Türkiye, while World Vision is working in with the International Blue Crescent Relief and Development Foundation (IBC).
The AHP response is delivering high-quality, complementary and inclusive child protection, gender-based violence services, mental health and psychosocial care to the communities most affected by the earthquake.
Support services will be tailored to address the complex and specific needs of different families, including referrals to other specialised services and access to resources such as emergency funds.
Four safe spaces will be established through the response to provide case management and mental health support. The spaces will include breastfeeding and WASH facilities, and provide baby care and menstrual hygiene supplies. Caregivers will be supported with positive parenting training, and humanitarian agency staff and volunteers will receive training on child protection and inclusion topics.
The responses aim to reach more than 23,000 people over 15 months.
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