Delivering emergency supplies after Syria and Türkiye earthquakes
UNICEF is working to provide children and their families with life-saving supplies.
Two weeks after devastating earthquakes hit south-east Türkiye and Syria on 6 February 2023, children and families in affected areas experienced two additional large earthquakes of 6.4 and 5.8 magnitude. This resulted in further buildings collapsing and reports of more people killed and injured.
As of 20 February, at least 41,100 deaths and more than 108,000 injuries have been confirmed in Türkiye. In Syria, at least 5,800 people have been killed and more than 10,800 injured.
For those affected, these latest quakes were a painful and terrifying reminder of the recent devastation, with many children likely experiencing shock and distress once again.
UNICEF in action
UNICEF has shipped over 73 tons of emergency supplies to Syria and Türkiye from its global hubs in Copenhagen and Dubai, in addition to mobilizing supplies already pre-positioned in-country.
Over the past two weeks, UNICEF has reached hundreds of thousands of people in earthquake-affected areas with life-saving supplies. These include high performance tents, medicines, first aid kits, nutrition supplements, blankets and winter clothing, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) supplies, and education and recreation items.
Loading supplies
Supplies arriving in Syria
Hygiene kits
In Türkiye, critical supplies including hygiene kits have reached nearly 218,000 people including over 132,000 children.
Heaters and winter supplies
UNICEF is helping to dispatch more than 1,000 electrical heaters, as well items such as blankets and winter clothing to keep children and families warm.
Water supplies
In Syria, UNICEF has provided more than 800,000 litres of safe water through water trucking. Pre-positioned water and sanitation supplies were dispatched to almost 100,000 affected people in 74 reception centres within 48 hours of the earthquake.
Health and nutrition support
UNICEF has deployed mobile Health and Nutrition teams to provide health and nutrition services. Through mobile clinics, UNICEF provides primary healthcare services, nutrition screenings, and nutrition supplements.
About UNICEF
UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.
For more information about UNICEF and its work for children, visit www.unicef.org