In Turkey alone, more than 800,000 people are facing another winter in temporary shelters and basic needs

• One year after the earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria, some 800,000 people continue to live in temporary settlements only in Turkey, in need of clean water, sanitation, nutrition, and health and psychosocial care. 
• During this year, more than 100,000 women have given birth and are now raising their children amidst uncertainty and lack of basic conditions.
• Action Against Hunger has provided humanitarian support to more than 400,000 people in both countries in the past year.

One year after the devastating earthquakes that struck southern Turkey and northern Syria, thousands of families continue to face challenges and live in temporary settlements. "Over the past year our teams, with the support of its partners, have been working hard to support the victims of the catastrophic earthquakes, but recovery is not yet complete. We continue to work on the rehabilitation of sanitation and water systems; we provide nutritional support and guidance, as well as support to the most vulnerable families for the purchase of nutritious food, shelter and hygiene materials and psychosocial care", explains Daniel Martin Santos, Action Against Hunger director for the Turkey operation.

The earthquakes had devastating consequences in both countries, with nearly 60,000 people killed and more than 100,000 injured. In Turkey, nearly 300,000 buildings were destroyed, forcing more than three million people from their homes. One year on from the tragedy, about 800,000 people continue to live in temporary settlements, facing the additional challenge of coping with their second winter without a home. According to the United Nations Population Fund, among those affected, more than 100,000 women have given birth and are now raising their children amid uncertainty and lack of basic conditions.
In Syria, before the earthquakes, more than 15 million people were already in need of humanitarian assistance due to conflict, economic crisis and epidemic outbreaks, according to UN estimates. In northern Syria, affected people are also dealing with the consequences of the earthquake, such as the loss of homes and public services. All schools used as collective shelters were evacuated and restored to resume classes. Sheltered families received cash assistance to cover rent for 6 months, but there is uncertainty about what will happen after that period, especially for those who have lost their livelihoods and are still dealing with the trauma of the catastrophe.
"One year after the earthquake, Action Against Hunger and our partners in Turkey are focusing on the more than 800,000 people who are still living in temporary shelters (tents and containers) and, within this population, the most vulnerable such as women, children and the elderly," says Daniel Martin. 
"We work together with other organisations and with the support of the state to address essential needs such as food, nutrition, access to clean water, hygiene and sanitation. In addition, we focus on helping families to generate resources and income. We are in the process of assessing and identifying sectors related to socio-economic inclusion, such as business development and access to employment. This initiative will allow us to identify areas with greater potential, concentrate our training and, of course, support those families who have already taken initiatives," continues Daniel Martín.

ACTION AGAINST HUNGER'S WORK IN SYRIA AND TURKEY IN THE LAST YEAR

From the first hours of the earthquake crisis, Action Against Hunger teams were mobilised and have been providing continuous support to affected people in Turkey and Syria in collaboration with local partners. Over the past year, more than 400,000 people have received our assistance. Specifically, around 152,000 people have received water, sanitation and hygiene support; over 175,000 in health and nutrition; and 62,400 in food security and livelihoods.

Bassel, head of Action Against Hunger's Monitoring and Evaluation team in Aleppo, with one of the earthquake victims who received winterization kits © Action Against Hunger. 

"I can't tell you how proud I am to be part of this great team and organisation that, quite frankly, spared no effort or time to be able to provide immediate relief in the aftermath of the earthquake. None of my colleagues were thinking of their own homes or families, but of what we could offer at any given moment and in these circumstances to the community. Honestly, this is the first time I have ever felt the humanity of the work we do to such an extent," says Bassel, head of Action Against Hunger's Monitoring and Evaluation team in Aleppo, Syria's most populous city.

THE STORY OF LAMA, A SCHOOLTEACHER WHO LOST HER HUSBAND

Lama, 45, one of the women benefiting from Action Against Hunger's shelter rehabilitation programme in Syria, dries tomatoes to make sauce on the rooftop of the school converted into a shelter last November © Hasan Belal for DEC and Action Against Hunger.

Lama, 49, is a school teacher from Aleppo. During the Syrian war, her family had to leave their home to escape the fighting. When they returned the house was badly damaged and they tried to fix it as best they could. However, when the earthquake struck, just four months after her husband died, the faulty repairs came to light and their home was completely destroyed. Until the end of 2023, she and her four children stayed in a school converted into a collective shelter supported by Action Against Hunger. 
"The shelter is actually a school, so at the beginning there were no toilets, not enough toilets, no showers, no lighting. This area hasn't had electricity since the war. Then Action Against Hunger came and saw how tragic the situation was. We were 210 families for only 5 toilets and we had no showers. We spent the first 15 days without showers," says Lama.
"Action Against Hunger installed new toilets for men and women and people with disabilities, new water taps and new showers," Lama continues. "They increased the number of sanitary facilities until there were enough for everyone. On each floor they installed three bathrooms, so now we have nine in total. They also installed solar panels, which was a big step. We were afraid to wander around here at night, the courtyard is very big and the area is very dark. We used our mobile phones to have some light, but with the solar system we now have light and hot water, and life has become somewhat normal again, as if we were in our homes," says Lama.