The violent earthquake that struck the regions of southern Turkey and northern Syria on the 6th of February at 4.17 a.m. resulted in numerous casualties, injured people and collapsed buildings.
After almost 12 years of conflict, most of the infrastructure in Aleppo was already damaged and unsafe. This earthquake marks a further disaster for the country. Numbers, not yet confirmed, amount to hundreds of casualties and thousands injured and are growing by the hour. Strong aftershocks are being recorded in Aleppo and in other areas of the country.
We have been operating in Syria since the beginning of the conflict in 2011, with interventions in education, protection, WASH and emergency response, including to Covid-19 and the cholera epidemic that broke out in 2022.
WeWorld's Emergency Unit was activated to check the condition of local staff in Aleppo, fortunately unharmed, and to recon the damages in order to assess immediate action to support the affected population. Our colleagues in Syria are already engaged in first aid actions to provide help, including distributions of items necessary to the people who sought temporary shelter and to protect them from the cold temperatures, which are expected to decrease in the coming days.
Now more than ever, support for the Syrian population is urgently needed. Help us bring blankets, sleeping bags, mattresses and hygiene kits!