Help thousands of children and families affected by the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria
Text UNICEF to 1021 and donate 5 BGN one time
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Thousands of children and families remain at risk after two devastating earthquakes and dozens of aftershocks in southeast Turkey and Syria on 6 February 2023.
The total death toll from the two strong earthquakes and the subsequent more than 600 tremors has now reached 33 000 people, including many children. Thousands more have been injured. Dozens of buildings and key infrastructure have been destroyed. These figures are expected to continue to rise.
"This is the strongest earthquake in the region in the last 100 years and it is happening at the worst possible time for vulnerable children in the affected areas. Thousands of families whose homes have been destroyed are left without shelter in sub-zero temperatures and snowfall."
- said James Elder, UNICEF spokesperson.
Families with children are sleeping on the streets, in shopping malls, schools, mosques, bus stations, under bridges or staying under the open sky because they are afraid to go home. Thousands of families are without shelter in winter, when temperatures often drop below freezing and it often snows or rains.
In Syria, UNICEF is scaling up humanitarian assistance to children and families in coordination with partners.
One of the highest priorities is providing access to clean drinking water and sanitation to affected children and families, which is particularly important to prevent disease in the early days of a humanitarian crisis.
Child protection is another high priority. This includes working on the identification of separated and unaccompanied children and their subsequent reunification with family, as well as providing psychosocial support, as many of the children are likely to have experienced severe trauma from the earthquake. Ensuring access to food and education for the most vulnerable children is also a key priority.
In Turkey, UNICEF is coordinating with the Turkish Government and the Office of Disaster and Emergency Management to address emerging needs related to the broader humanitarian response. Our top priority is to ensure that affected children and families receive the support they desperately need.
UNICEF is working with Turkey's Ministry of Family and Social Services to ensure the protection of children in the affected provinces, and has already evacuated hundreds of children living in orphanages and other institutions to safety.
In Turkey, UNICEF is also supporting the government in providing warm winter clothes and blankets for thousands of children and babies, hygiene materials for homeless families and kits for mothers and babies.
Support UNICEF to help thousands of children and families affected by the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria
How you can help:
Become a BENEFICIARY online with your bank card here. Make a bank donation with the title "DONATE FOR TURKEY AND SYRIA" to the UNICEF Bulgaria account with IBAN. Or send an SMS with the text UNICEF to 1021 and donate 5 BGN one time.
