EARTHQUAKE: Oxfam and partners mounting response in Turkiye, and Syria amidst destruction of life and property

Oxfam teams in Turkiye and Syria are assessing along with partner organizations the fastest, most appropriate humanitarian efforts to help affected people in the aftermath of Monday’s devastating earthquake – the biggest in Turkiye since 1939. 

An Oxfam colleague in Turkiye  – an expert amateur mountaineer – traveled today into south-eastTurkey, part of an official search-and-rescue mission mounted by Turkish authorities who called on civilian mountaineers to help.  

Meryem Aslan, Oxfam spokesperson in Ankara, said: “The scale of destruction is vast. Following two big earthquakes and over 60 aftershocks, people are still in shock and fear, they don't even have time to mourn the lost ones." She managed to reach family and friends in affected areas by phone – thankful they were alive and well – but many buildings and home were now rubble, she said.  

Oxfam KEDV, the Oxfam affiliate in Turkiye, has partnerships with around 80 women’s cooperatives in ten Turkish provinces most affected by the quake and is currently assessing response plans with them given the scale of devastation. An Oxfam team is traveling to affected areas tomorrow (Tuesday) to conduct assessments, as part of the official National Disaster Response Platform. 

"It is a double tragedy for survivors having to cope too with the cold and who will be unable to sleep outside. It is horrifying to contemplate how people will even be able to cope, given that some areas are even now in snow,” said Aslan. 

"Reaching survivors will be extremely challenging with many roads and highways damaged or blocked, and over vast distances. Even as Turkiye has a lot of expertise in dealing with the aftermath of earthquakes, the scale of this one is daunting. The death toll has already reached 1500 people and is growing.  The number of survivors who may be left now with absolutely nothing is likely to be huge”, she said. 

“Oxfam, together with partners, is gathering urgent information to assess the scale of devastation and what people most urgently need,” Aslan said. “Typically, Oxfam and partners would look to provide protection, water and sanitation, shelter and food support, and in the longer-term rehabilitation and reconstruction. We are now assessing the type of immediate and longer-term support that is needed.   

“We know that all countries affected by this awful earthquake, and the survivors of it, will need a lot of help and support – not only in the immediate short-term but in the days and weeks and months ahead.” 

 In Syria, the cities of Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, and Idlib have been badly hit by both the earthquake and continuous, severe aftershocks that have driven people into wintery streets fearing further collapses of buildings. Dozens of buildings have been badly damaged across Aleppo and 46 are reported to have collapsed. As nightly temperatures are expected to drop to zero degrees Celsius. Shelter, food, water, fuel, and medical care for those who have been injured are desperately needed.  

For Syria, this earthquake hits at a time when the highest humanitarian need in the country is at its highest.  Over 15m are in desperate need of humanitarian assistance and support.