Devastating earthquakes hit Syria
Millions of children need urgent humanitarian support
Syria and neighbouring Türkiye were rocked by two deadly earthquakes and over a thousand powerful aftershocks on 6 February 2023. The timing could not have been worse, hitting during Syria’s freezing winter temperatures and pouring rain. Children and their families fled their homes seeking safety.
Situation at a glance
Affected population
3.7 million children
8.8 million people
People to be reached
2.6 million children
5.4 million people
Funding requirements:
US$ 172.7 million
The massive tremors caused widespread damage to schools, health, and other essential infrastructure. Access to safe water and sanitation remain a major concern, as are the health needs of the affected population.
As the widespread emergency humanitarian response rolled out, another earthquake occurred on 20 February 2023. It was a 6.4 magnitude tremor that struck near the Syrian border, adding additional trauma for those who had survived the previous earthquakes.
In Syria, nearly 9 million people are affected and in need of immediate humanitarian support. Of those, 3,7 million are children. Many families have lost their homes and are now living in temporary shelters and camps. UNICEF Syria is on the ground providing lifesaving assistance to impacted children and families.
“I heard the layers of the earth cracking”
Maysaa and her younger sister were asleep in their bedroom when the first 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck at 4am local time. She recalls waking up and hearing her father shouting for them and their mother.
“I heard screams, and the sound of very strong winds. I heard the layers of the earth cracking. I also heard the walls move. This was the most terrifying scene of my life. I felt scared,” Maysaa told UNICEF staff. The brave teenager helped her younger sister down a rickety staircase, and out to an open square where neighbours had gathered. She says it was raining heavily and all she could think of was the safety of her little sister. The traumatized girls hugged each other and cried. But the worst was not over. A second, 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck the area later that same day.
“Three of my friends died, and I cried when I found out. I felt so sad for them, they are my friends and I love them.”
Maysaa and her family now live at a school that is being used as a temporary shelter. She is slowly coming to terms with the loss of some of her closest friends in the earthquakes.
“Three of my friends died, and I cried when I found out. I felt so sad for them, they are my friends and I love them. Their names are Sarah, Najwa and Mariam. Before school closed, it was a Thursday, and I saw them. We were all walking together on the school playground. We bought stuff, we shared food, and we were laughing. We used to tell each other our secrets. Then I saw their names on Facebook, and I cried a lot over them. I told my mom I want to talk to them. I was so sad when I knew they had died,” said Maysaa.
This is a glimpse of the traumatic impact the earthquake is having on survivors. Each collapsed building, each destroyed school, holds the stories of thousands of traumatized families, neighbours and friends.
What UNICEF is doing
More than one month on from the two catastrophic earthquakes, UNICEF has reached almost half a million people with lifesaving water, sanitation and hygiene services and supplies, including through water trucking, solid waste management, desludging of septic tanks as well as the provision of family hygiene kits and other lifesaving supplies across Syria.
Over 294,000 people, including those taking refuge in shelters, have been reached with essential supplies and medical consultations through UNICEF-supported health centres and mobile health teams. More than 130,000 under five-year-old children have been supported with nutrition services across the earthquake-affected areas. UNICEF has also reached more than 100,000 children and caregivers with psychological support, including psychological first aid, recreational activities, mental health psychosocial support and parenting sessions. Education supplies and recreational kits for distribution to schools and shelters to give children the chance to continue learning.
Thirteen-year-old Maysaa sums it up when she says, “I only ask to have our childhood. I ask for safety, to have a safe home. I would like to say to the children of Syria, don’t be scared and hopefully we will pass through this crisis safely. I pray to God that this doesn’t happen again.”