Help thousands of children and families, affected by the earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria.

 

Thousands of children and families remain are at risk after two devastating earthquakes hit south-east Türkiye and Syria on 6 February 2023.

The number of the victims and the injured in both countries continues to grow. Thousands of families, whose homes have been destroyed, are without shelter in temperatures below freezing with frequent snowfalls.

UNICEF is working on the ground with partners to provide lifesaving support to the affected children and families in Türkiye and Syria by delivering winter clothing, safe water, child protection and psychosocial support.

 

 

 

 

Support UNICEF’s efforts by sending an SMS with text UNICEF to 1021 and donating 5 BGN one-off. VAT and fees are not charged to subscribers of all mobile operators.

Everyone can also donate to the bank account of UNICEF Bulgaria with IBAN: BG34RZBB91551065034919 with the description EARTHQUAKE.

The children and families affected by the earthquakes need urgent humanitarian aid.

 

 

 

 

In Türkiye the earthquakes affected around 13.5 million people across 10 provinces. Children account for more than a third of the affected population. More than 6,444 buildings have been destroyed, and even more damaged, including hospitals, schools and other critical infrastructure.

In Türkiye, UNICEF is coordinating with the Government of Türkiye and the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency on the emerging needs linked to the wider humanitarian response. Our immediate priority is to ensure children and families affected receive the support they desperately need.

 

UNICEF is working with the Ministry of Family and Social Services (MoFSS) to ensure the protection of children in the affected provinces and has already evacuated hundreds of children living in children’s homes and other institutions to safe locations.

 

UNICEF is also supporting the Government in Türkiye on providing warm winter clothing and blankets for thousands of children and babies, hygiene kits for displaced families, and mother-baby kits.

In Syria UNICEF has already reached 12,000 people with water supplies and hygiene kits. Thousands of families are exposed to the elements when temperatures regularly drop below freezing and snow and freezing rain are common. Families with children are sleeping in the streets, malls, schools, mosques, bus stations and under bridges and/or staying with their children in open areas for fear of going home. Hundreds of buildings are damaged or destroyed, and hundreds of families are still trapped.

One immediate focus of UNICEF is on ensuring affected children and families have access to safe drinking water and sanitation services – critical in preventing illness in the early days of a crisis. Another high priority is that of child protection. That includes work to identify separated and unaccompanied children and work to reunite them with family, as well as providing children with psychosocial support as many children were likely traumatized by the event. Ensuring vulnerable children have access to nutrition and education is another key priority.

 

Help thousands of children and families, affected by the earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria.

 

 

 

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