A 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit southern Türkiye and northern Syria on February 6, 2023. It was followed by thousands of aftershocks that killed more than 56,000 people across both countries and destroyed over 850,000 buildings in Türkiye alone.

The last year has been difficult for the many families affected. Your donation has been life-giving. CWS sent over $140,000 to our global network ACT Alliance (Action by Churches Together) for food, shelter, medicines, and psychosocial care in Syria and Türkiye.

You provided the help people urgently needed – thank you!

Over 1.76 million Syrian refugees are sheltering in southeastern Türkiye. The earthquakes have pushed them deeper into poverty. Thousands of people remain homeless as the country struggles to clear up from the disaster and rebuild what was destroyed.

In the first days, ACT Alliance Türkiye focused on meeting basic needs like child nutrition kits. Over time it set up psychosocial programmes involving activities for children and families and counselling services to assist survivors dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder, domestic violence and poverty.

The earthquakes affected over 4 million people living in the northwest of Syria. Many had fled the civil war and were struggling to meet their daily needs.

The Middle East Council of Churches with other groups provided shelter and support in church facilities and through its programmes. In the reporting period, it reached 22,645 people with relief items like blankets, medication and food baskets as well as hygiene and toolkits. It has repaired schools, church buildings used for shelters and installed a solar power system at one shelter. It distributes multipurpose cash transfers and is continuing psychosocial sessions in schools.

“I was very happy and started dancing with joy”

Elian (pictured) lives in Kafr Buhm in Hama Governorate, Syria. He is 37 years old and suffers from kidney disease:

“ I am unable to work to support my three little children and my wife, I do not have enough money to start a small business. I depend on the help of charities. My brothers provide me with a little food from time to time. On the day I received a call from the Middle East Council of Churches telling me that I would receive cash assistance, I was very happy and started dancing with joy. My wife thought I went mad.

The house that I live in was left to me by my father. It is an unfinished house. Only one room has windows and a door, and it is the room in which we live, eat and sleep.

I benefited from the money I received. The motor of the refrigerator was broken, thanks to your help, I bought a second-hand motor and the refrigerator is working again. I also bought medicine and food in an amount sufficient for my family for about a month.”

Donations helped with:

• Multipurpose Cash Transfers for 3,036 people in Syria.
• Food parcels for 4,584 people in Türkiye.
• Medication for 755 people in Syria.
• 3,166 people have taken part in psychosocial programmes or received individual help in Türkiye.
• 2848 families received hygiene kits in Syria
• 2,597 people received hygiene kits and food baskets in Syria.

Note: Donations contributed to the ACT Appeal for this partner. These are indicators from the total distribution over the first 10 months.  More help was given.

Download this Report.

February 7, 2024

Photo credits: GOPA-DERD, MECC and ACT Alliance