4.6 million children live in affected areas in Turkey, another 2.5 million children are affected in Syria.
NEW YORK/AMMAN/GENEVA/Vienna (OTS) – Seven days after two devastating earthquakes and more than 1,600 aftershocks in southeastern Turkey and Syria that wreaked havoc and claimed thousands of lives, UNICEF is warning that millions of children need urgently needed humanitarian aid.
The total number of children affected remains uncertain, but 4.6 million children live in the ten provinces of Turkey affected by the earthquake. More than 2.5 million children are affected in Syria.
“Children and families in Turkey and Syria are facing unimaginable hardship in the wake of these devastating earthquakes,” said Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF. life-saving assistance, including clean water, sanitation, basic medical and nutritional care, and psychosocial support for children. Not just now, but in the long term.”
While the number of children killed and injured during and after the earthquakes has yet to be confirmed, it will run into the thousands as the official death toll has surpassed 35,000.
The impact of earthquakes on children and families in the region is catastrophic, leaving hundreds of thousands of people in dire need. Many families who are now homeless have taken refuge in temporary shelters in often freezing temperatures, with snow and rain adding to their plight. The earthquakes also caused significant damage to schools and other essential services, further threatening the well-being of children and families. Access to clean water and sanitation is also a major concern, as is the need for health care for the affected population.
UNICEF works day and night to bring vital aid to those affected. Local teams work with partners to distribute essential supplies such as medical supplies, blankets, clothing, clean water and hygiene items. The organization also continues to provide safe spaces for children to play and recover from the traumatic events they have witnessed.
Despite these efforts, the needs of affected populations remain immense and the challenges numerous and complex. Damage to roads and vital infrastructure, as well as frost, snow and rain make it difficult to reach those in need and get the help they need. Many UNICEF partner organizations and staff were killed, injured or displaced. Your offices and equipment are no longer usable unless destroyed.
In the coming days and weeks, UNICEF will continue to work with partners to bring life-saving assistance to as many children and families as possible.
In Syria, UNICEF is working to provide urgently needed relief to people affected by the earthquake. The organization had previously stockpiled relief supplies in northwest Syria, which were now being distributed to as many people as possible. Immediate priorities include access to clean water and sanitation, essential to prevent illness in the early days of the crisis. UNICEF is also working to assess the impact of earthquakes on major water supply stations and is continuing its efforts to bring clean water to displaced people. In addition, the organization mobilized mobile teams to provide health and nutrition products and services to victims, including those who fled to shelters.
In Turkey, UNICEF’s immediate priority is to ensure that affected children and families receive the support they desperately need. UNICEF actions focused on protecting children include providing immediate psychosocial support in child-friendly spaces, assessing the status of key water supplies and health and nutrition needs. Warm clothes for children, blankets and hygiene and travel baskets for families are also distributed. In addition, UNICEF and the Turkish Ministry of Youth and Sports have mobilized an additional 5,000 young volunteers who will work with local outreach teams, in addition to the more than 3,000 young volunteers already on site.
In both Turkey and Syria, child protection remains a top priority for UNICEF, including identifying and reuniting children who have been separated from their families and are unaccompanied. The focus is also on providing psychosocial support for children who have had traumatic experiences.
UNICEF is also trying to ensure that children can learn again as soon as possible. The organization is assessing the damage to the schools and making preparations for immediate repairs and the installation of temporary classrooms. In affected parts of Syria, schools have been closed until at least February 18, 2023 and in Turkey until March 1 in the ten affected provinces, while search, rescue and recovery efforts continue.
Multimedia resources can be downloaded here: https://weshare.unicef.org/Package/2AMZIFQ2X3YU
Questions and contact:
Mag. Lisa Heidegger-Haber, MA., [email protected], M +43 660 34 83 653