Concern continuing to support survivors of 2023 Türkiye-Syria earthquake as it marks first anniversary

The Irish humanitarian organisation’s team in Türkiye, who themselves lost loved ones in the disaster, assisted over 375,000 people by providing shelter, food, cash, clean water, sanitation, psychological and legal support.

The two consecutive earthquakes of 7.6 and 7.7 magnitude struck south-east Türkiye and north-west Syria on the night of February 6 with hundreds of aftershocks.

“The earthquakes shook our homes and places of work and many people tragically didn’t survive, but we grouped together and did what we could to help in the aftermath,” said Concern’s Türkiye Country Director, Shahzad Jamil.

“Millions of people were impacted across east Türkiye and also in north-west Syria where my Concern colleagues responded to the disaster.

“We are proud of our response and very grateful to our donors who continue to support our work with communities displaced by the earthquake. Our donors include Irish Aid, the European Union, Disaster Emergency Committee, Community Chest Korea and the Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance of America.

“Concern will continue to support the efforts of the Government of Türkiye until the affected populations have recovered from the disaster.

“We very much appreciate the incredible response of the Turkish people and Turkish Government to this massive catastrophe. Their response has been remarkable considering the scale of the disaster.

“Concern already had a presence in the affected provinces who were able to respond quickly because we were working in Türkiye for ten years assisting refugees fleeing conflict in Syria.

“Members of our own team suffered from the destruction and lost loved ones. We continued our operations in places severely impacted by the earthquake in Hatay, Adıyaman, Malatya, Gazinatep, Şanlıurfa, Kahramanmaraş and Osmaniye.”

Over 15 million people were affected by the earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria. 

For more details about Concern’s work and ways to support its aid efforts in Türkiye and Syria, visit concern.net. 

ENDS

For more information or interview requests please contact Kevin Jenkinson at [email protected].