Immediate earthquake response plan for Syria
Humanitarian situation, needs, priority activities and funding requirements for February to May 2023
THE SITUATION AT A GLANCE
Affected population
8.8 million people
3.7 million children
To be reached
5.4 million people
2.6 million children
Funding requirements
US$172.7 Million
In the early hours of 6 February, multiple earthquakes, the strongest being of 7.7 magnitude on the Richter Scale, struck southern Türkiye and northern Syria. At least 1,206 aftershocks have been confirmed as of date of publication. Severe human and material damages were reported mainly in Aleppo, Hama, Idleb, and Lattakia Governorates, and impacting almost every person living in north-west Syria.
The earthquakes have created a disaster of colossal proportions and casualty numbers keep climbing. As of 13 February, in Syria at least 5,814 people have reportedly been killed and around 11,000 injured, this includes over 4,400 deaths and more than 8,600 injuries in north-west Syria with many still trapped. While the full extent is still unfolding, women and children are likely to be most affected.
Many homes and basic service infrastructure has been destroyed or damaged. More than 8.8 million people – including 3.7 million children – have been affected and many are now in urgent need of food, water, shelter, and emergency medical and psychosocial assistance. The crisis also hit Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) already living in the affected areas, particularly those living outside of camps and in damaged houses or apartments. This placing them at greater risks in the face of weather events and further natural disasters.
Several factors are influencing and exacerbating the severity of humanitarian needs, including the ongoing winter season with below freezing temperatures, pre-existing largescale humanitarian needs and damaged social service infrastructure, recent cholera outbreak alongside significant shortages in electricity, water and fuel, within an overall context of challenging economic conditions and 12 years of protracted crisis.
Girls and boys, many of whom have lost their entire families, now see the chance of returning to a normal life further jeopardized, hence leaving unprecedented levels of traumatic stress. Those who have lost their homes, can also no longer find the safety of school learning spaces as many were damaged and school materials lost. Children have become more vulnerable and at greater risk of exploitation and abuse.
Key planned targets
- 4.3 MILLION people access a sufficient quantity of safe water for drinking and domestic needs
- 3 MILLION children, pregnant and lactating women benefit from essential health and nutrition supplies and services
- 766,000 children and their parents benefit from structured and sustainable child protection interventions
- 727,000 students and teachers benefiting from education supplies and services children accessing formal or non-formal education
- 330,000 vulnerable earthquake affected people will benefit from cash assistance to cover their basic needs
Highlights
This immediate response plan outlines the humanitarian situation in the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes that struck southern Türkiye and northern Syria on 6 February 2023. The response plan includes a map of the affected areas and outlines the humanitarian needs, priority response activities and funding requirements.
