Over 51,000 people have been killed and over 124,000 people were injured by the earthquakes that occurred in southern Turkiye near the border with northern Syria in February 2023. 26 million individuals have been impacted amongst the entire quake-hit area. The earthquakes resulted in an estimated 328,000 people displaced in Syria, and 2.7 million displaced in Turkiye, putting the health and safety of many people at risk.
GlobalMedic is responding. We have Rapid Response Teams on the ground in Turkey, providing clean water with community sized water purification systems to local organizations. They have installed 45 water purification systems so that community members have clean water to drink and cook with. The Team has also distributed 1,940 Food Kits, 2,150 hygiene kits, 20 tons of firewood, undergarments and medications for lice and scabies.
GlobalMedic is also providing Family Emergency Kits which are being sent to Syria. Each kit includes a ceramic water filter, solar lights and hygiene items. These will provide families with simple, reliable access to clean drinking water alongside items that help provide comfort and normalcy. The units themselves have no moving parts, and do not require any electricity. With electricity unreliable or non-existent following the earthquake, Family Emergency Kits provide a solution.
Lastly, GlobalMedic has activated their Emergency Food Kit program for Syria. These food kits will contain a variety of culturally appropriate pantry staples including rice, chickpeas, green lentils and red lentils. Emergency food supplies are quickly depleting in both countries, and food insecurity will continue to rise. 9,440 Emergency Food Kits and 4,320 Family Emergency kits have been shipped to Syria and more are on the way.
