Emergency Response for Turkey earthquake

Rahma Worldwide has launched an emergency response to a Major 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit southern Turkey and Syria on February 6th, resulting in widespread damage across several governorates including Aleppo, Lattakia, Hama, Idleb, and Tartous. The death toll has risen to over 500 and over 1,300 people have sustained injuries. Many of the affected areas are structurally unsound and could collapse, making search and rescue efforts difficult. The lack of equipment is hampering these efforts and government authorities are calling for support from the private sector. The power outage following the earthquake is affecting water networks and structural damage has been reported in water reservoirs and tanks in Lattakia.

Humanitarian Response:

Humanitarian organizations are supporting immediate response efforts, including search and rescue operations, provision of food, non-food items, portable water, medicines, first aid and trauma care, dignity kits, and psychosocial support. Preparations for inter-agency needs assessments are underway to inform comprehensive response efforts. The government has deployed search and rescue teams, supported debris removal, and mobilized relief supplies. Directives have been issued for assessments to be conducted on the safety of buildings and infrastructure in the affected locations.

Urgency:

The new emergency has occurred at a time when the humanitarian community is already grappling to respond to large numbers of people in need with very limited funding. Our resources have been immediately mobilized and deployed, as new needs will exacerbate the prevailing humanitarian situation and further constrain the already very limited response capacities.