Hundreds of Thousands in Türkiye and Syria Still Homeless One Year after Deadly Earthquake

One year ago, a devastating earthquake hit Türkiye and Syria, in just minutes claiming more than 55,000 lives, injuring countless others, destroying hundreds of thousands of homes and leaving hundreds of thousands of people homeless.

The Turkish Red Crescent and Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) societies responded immediately, launching massive relief operations. This massive relief effort continues today, supporting the needs of the hundreds of thousands of people still living in tent and container camps, with thousands more living in tents outside their destroyed homes.

More than 80,000 Turkish Red Crescent and SARC volunteers have been supporting people impacted by the quake. In the last year in Türkiye alone, the Red Cross and Red Crescent network has provided the following (as of January 31, 2024):

• More than 11.6 million relief items, including kitchen and other housing sets, blankets, food parcels, hygiene kits, clothing and baby items

• More than 426 million hot meals

• Shelter for thousands, including 2,880 shelter containers

• Health care through mobile health clinics, including dental care units, for more than 47,000 people

• Mental health and psychosocial support to more than 207,000 people

• Cash and vouchers to more than 460,000 people

Stories From Türkiye Sabri Ayabakan owns a trout facility in the old village of Doganshehir, home to his family of six. His house was severely damaged in the earthquake, the walls of the trout production facility collapsed, and all his fish were destroyed. With the support he received from the Turkish Red Crescent, he was able to start again. Learn more here.

Fikret Demirkol was practicing hairdressing before the earthquake struck, causing his house and business to collapse. However, with the cooperation of International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), he received the necessary assistance to reopen his business. See his story here.

A Year Later, The Response Continues The American Red Cross and the Red Cross and Red Crescent network continue to support the earthquake relief and recovery operations:

• Cash assistance: Cash and voucher assistance are an integral part of the relief and recovery efforts. They help disaster survivors prioritize and take care of their families based on their own preferences and decisions. The Red Cross and Red Crescent network has provided cash and cash vouchers to more than 460,000 people affected by the earthquakes in Türkiye.

• Feeding: While many displaced residents have transitioned to container camps outfitted with kitchen equipment, others still remain in tent settlements where hot meals must be provided.

• Health: Key needs include access to medical treatment and equipment. Turkish Red Crescent mobile health teams are providing health care services to the affected population, especially in rural areas. Other priorities include care for new-born babies and their mothers, as well as people with disabilities, and alleviating public health risks in camps for displaced residents.

• Housing: Furnished containers have been installed to provide temporary shelter. Anticipating weather hazards, the Turkish Red Crescent has helped to support container camp residents with winterization efforts and cooling equipment for the hot summer months.

• Protection: Living in camps present risks for vulnerable groups such as children and women, unaccompanied elderly, people with disabilities, people with critical medical conditions, or those who lack access to essential services. Cash solutions will be mainstreamed to reduce protection risks for vulnerable people.

• Psychosocial Support: Psychological and emotional support are some of the most important needs of disaster survivors. Turkish Red Crescent psychosocial support teams responded immediately to the earthquake and have been actively aiding earthquake survivors ever since.

American Red Cross Supports Quake Relief Red Cross and Red Crescent societies from around the world, including the American Red Cross, have joined together with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent societies (IFRC) to provide millions of dollars in funding, technical and logistical support and more to help the people of Türkiye.

Thanks to generous support from the American public, the American Red Cross has raised $21.22 million to help survivors of the Türkiye Earthquake. As of January 6, 2024, the American Red Cross had already spent or made firm commitments to spend approximately $16.33 million to support the earthquake emergency relief and recovery efforts. The remaining funds will be used to support cash and voucher assistance that will help the most vulnerable and severely affected individuals and families meet urgent needs.