Latest
Story
23 March 2023
According to the UN Women - IPU "Women in Politics 2023" Map: Women's participation in politics is still far from equality.
Learn more
Story
22 March 2023
5 things you should know about the UN 2023 Water Conference
Learn more
Speech
20 March 2023
International Donors’ Conference “Together for the people in Türkiye and Syria
Learn more
Latest
The Sustainable Development Goals in Türkiye
The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Türkiye:
Story
16 February 2023
United Nations is launching a $1 billion humanitarian appeal for the people of Türkiye
United Nations launched a $1 billion humanitarian appeal for the people of Türkiye suffering from the most devastating earthquakes to hit the country in a century.
"The funding – which covers a three-month period -- will assist 5.2 million people and allow aid organizations to rapidly scale up vital support for Government-led relief efforts in a number of areas including food security, protection, education, water and shelter" said the statement by the Secretary-General – on launch of humanitarian appeal for Türkiye.
"Türkiye is home to the largest number of refugees in the world and has shown enormous generosity to its Syrian neighbors for years. Now is the time for the world to support the people of Türkiye – just as they have stood in solidarity with others seeking assistance" Guterres emphasized in his statement.
"The needs are enormous, people are suffering and there’s no time to lose. I urge the international community to step up and fully fund this critical effort in response to one of the biggest natural disasters of our times" Secretary-General ended his statement.
"Türkiye is home to the largest number of refugees in the world and has shown enormous generosity to its Syrian neighbors for years. Now is the time for the world to support the people of Türkiye – just as they have stood in solidarity with others seeking assistance" Guterres emphasized in his statement.
"The needs are enormous, people are suffering and there’s no time to lose. I urge the international community to step up and fully fund this critical effort in response to one of the biggest natural disasters of our times" Secretary-General ended his statement.

Story
23 March 2023
According to the UN Women - IPU "Women in Politics 2023" Map: Women's participation in politics is still far from equality.
The 2023 edition of the Map, created by UN Women and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) since 2005, has been published. According to the IPU-UN Women 2023 Map, more women are participating in political decision-making worldwide, but gender equality still has not been achieved.
The Map shows the latest rankings and regional distribution of women in executive positions and national parliaments as of 1 January 2023. According to the data shared, while number of women in political leadership roles, both in government and in parliament is increasing worldwide, it remains very low in some countries.
UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous said: "This data tells us that women are still the minority of Heads of State and Government. They are still deeply under-represented in government leadership, at less than one in four Cabinet Ministers, with men continuing to dominate critical portfolios such as the economy, defense, and energy. Full democracy needs the equal participation of women in all its processes. Yet, continued violence and threats – online and offline – against women leaders, candidates, and voters blight the potential for their voices and knowledge to bring the change that is so urgently needed for economic and social recovery. The world cannot afford to continue this injustice. We need a paradigm shift that brings true equality."
IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong said: "We’re seeing ongoing progress in the number of women in politics this year, which is encouraging. However, we still have a long way to go to reach gender equality when we see the current rates of growth. With the interlinked crises of climate change, geopolitical tensions, economic instability, and social inequality, the world needs to better harness the talents of women and encourage them to enter politics sooner rather than later.
Data reveals wide global inequalities
As of 1 January 2023, 11.3% of countries have women Heads of State (17 out of 151 countries, monarchy-based systems excluded), and 9.8% have women Heads of Government (19 out of 193). This is an increase compared to a decade ago when figures stood at 5.3% and 7.3%, respectively. Of all the regions, Europe continues to have the highest number of countries led by women. According to the "Women in Politics 2023" Map, the proportion of women parliamentarians has increased globally to 26.5% from 25.5% in 2021, while the number of women Speakers of Parliament increased from 20.9% in 2021 to 22.7%.
According to recent data, women represent 22.8% of ministerial positions as of 1 January 2023.The regions with the highest share of women in ministerial positions are Europe and North America (31.6%) and Latin America and the Caribbean (30.1%). Central & South Asia and the Pacific Islands are the regions where women are least represented in ministerial positions with 10.1% and 8.1% respectively. In many European countries (13 countries), on the other hand, more than 50% of heads of ministries are held by women.
Although underrepresented, women hold ministerial positions on environment (32%), public administration (30%), and education (30%), and are in leadership positions on gender equality, human rights, and social rights. In contrast, men continue to dominate ministries such as economy, defense, justice, and interior.
The situation in Türkiye according to the "Women in Politics: 2023" Map
Structural barriers to women's equal participation in political life can only be addressed through temporary special measures with specific targets. One of the most important temporary special measures is gender quotas, which can be in different forms. Within the framework of these practices, especially towards the upcoming parliamentary elections in Türkiye, it is of great importance for political parties to include more women candidates in their lists and to place women in winnable positions on candidate lists. Examples include adopting gender quotas accompanied with a ranking/placement provision like zipper system to place women in the winnable positions in the lists. Although there are no legislated gender quotas, political parties can apply their own gender quotas for candidate lists as well as all management and decision-making positions to ensure equal participation. Political parties providing financial support to women candidates not only for their nomination fees but also for their campaign work and throughout the election period would also contribute significantly as a temporary special measure.
1 of 5

Story
22 March 2023
5 things you should know about the UN 2023 Water Conference
The UN 2023 Water Conference, which takes place at UN Headquarters from 22-24 March, is being hailed as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to accelerate progress towards universal access to safe water and sanitation by 2030.
Water is at the core of sustainable development. It supports all aspects of life on Earth, and access to safe and clean water is a basic human right. However, decades of mismanagement and misuse have intensified water stress, threatening the many aspects of life that depend on this crucial resource.
1. We are facing a global water crisis
Water is essential for human well-being, energy and food production, healthy ecosystems, gender equality, poverty reduction and more.
But we are currently facing a global water crisis. Billions of people around the world still lack access to water. It is estimated that more than 800,000 people die each year from diseases directly attributed to unsafe water, inadequate sanitation, and poor hygiene practices.
Demands for this precious resource continue to rise: about four billion people experience severe water scarcity for at least one month of the year. With water being so crucial to many aspects of life, it is important to ensure its protection and proper management to ensure that everyone has equitable access to this essential resource by 2030.
2. Water and climate are inextricably linked
From increasing floods, unpredictable rain fall, and droughts, the impacts of climate change on water can be seen and felt at an accelerating rate. These impacts threaten sustainable development, biodiversity, and people’s access to water and sanitation.
According to the latest State of the Climate Services on Water report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), water-related hazards have increased by an alarming rate. Since 2000, floods have increased by 134 per cent with the duration of droughts increasing by 29 per cent.
But water can also be a key solution to climate change. Carbon storage can be improved by protecting environments like peatlands and wetlands, adopting sustainable agricultural practices can help reduce stress on freshwater supplies, and improving water supply and sanitation infrastructures can ensure that everyone has access to vital resources in the future.
Water must be at the centre of climate policies and action. Sustainable water management can help build resilience, mitigate impacts of climate change, and protect societies and ecosystems. Sustainable, affordable, and scalable water solutions must become a priority.
3. Four decades on, bold new commitments are on the table
The UN 2023 Water Conference will be a crucial moment to decide on concerted action to “take action and address the broad challenges surrounding water,” in the words of Li Junhua, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and the Secretary-General of the event.
The Conference will bring Heads of State and Government, Ministers, and stakeholders across all different sectors together achieve internationally agreed goals, including Sustainable Development Goal 6 of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for a fairer future; ensuring access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene for all.
One of the main outcomes of the Conference will be the Water Action Agenda that will capture all water-related voluntary commitments and follow on their progress. The Agenda aims to encourage Member States, stakeholders, and the private sector to commit to urgent actions to address today’s water challenges.
4. Focus on five key areas
The Conference will feature five “interactive dialogues” to strengthen and accelerate action for key water areas.
The interactive dialogues also support the five principles of the SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework, an initiative to deliver fast results towards ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030.
The five interactive dialogues are:
Water for Health: Access to safe drinking water, hygiene, and sanitation.
Water for Sustainable Development: Valuing Water, Water-Energy-Food Nexus and Sustainable Economic and Urban Development.
Water for Climate, Resilience and Environment: Source to Sea, Biodiversity, Climate, Resilience and Disaster Risk Reduction.
Water for Cooperation: Transboundary and International Water Cooperation, Cross Sectoral Cooperation and Water Across the 2030 Agenda.
Water Action Decade: Accelerating the implementation of the objectives of the Decade, including through the UN Secretary-General’s Action Plan.
5. How can you get involved?
Water is a critical issue that affects everyone. As UN Member States, governments and stakeholders prepare to make their own water commitments, the UN is calling on everyone to take their own action. Any action – whether small or big – can help accelerate change and action towards achieving the goals and targets of SDG 6.
Here are some simple actions that can be incorporated into daily routines:
Take shorter showers and reduce your water waste in your home. With 44 per cent of household wastewater not being safely treated, taking shorter showers is a terrific way to save this precious resource. Lazy Person’s Guide to Saving Water
Participate in clean-ups of local rivers, lakes, or wetlands. Plant a tree or create your own water garden. These actions can help protect water ecosystems from pollution and reduce the risk of flooding and store water efficiently.
Raise awareness on the critical connection between toilets, sanitation, and menstruation. Break taboos by starting conversations in your local community, school, or workplace.
Learn more about the goals and targets of SDG 6 and continue to advocate for solutions at the local and national level.
1 of 5

Story
19 March 2023
Donors’ Conference for victims of the earthquakes
The Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU and the European Commission will host an International Donors’ Conference 20 March in Brussels with the participation of the United Nations to support the people of Türkiye and Syria affected by the recent devastating earthquakes.
Co-hosted by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and by Prime Minister of Sweden, Ulf Kristersson, for the Swedish Presidency of the Council, and organised in coordination with the Turkish authorities, the Donors’ Conference will be open to EU Member States, candidate countries and potential candidates, neighbouring and partner countries, G20 members – except for Russia – Member States of the Gulf Cooperation, as well as the UN, international organisations, humanitarian actors and international and European financial institutions.
“Six weeks after the devastating earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria, we come together to support the survivors of this tragedy,” says EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. “Our solidarity will continue to be as strong as it was in the first hours after the earthquake. The people in Türkiye and Syria should know that we are with them for the long run. I invite all nations and all donors, public and private, to contribute and honour the memory of the lives lost, the heroism of the first responders and most importantly to build together a better future for the survivors.”
Ulf Kristersson, the Prime Minister of Sweden. points out that the earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria are a disaster of historic proportions. “I’m saddened by the loss of lives and homes, and the human suffering. The consequences are truly horrendous. As President of the Council of the European Union, Sweden will do everything in our power, together with the EU and international partners, to help those affected in the next phases of the rehabilitation and early recovery.”
Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will virtually address the opening session of Monday's EU-led International Donors' Conference for solidarity with the country after last month's powerful earthquakes, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Sunday. The ministry said in a statement that the conference, which is being organized by the EU Commission and Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, "reflects the solidarity and support following the devastating earthquakes of 6 February." Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu will attend the conference in person and hold bilateral talks with his counterparts on the sidelines, statement added.
Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator, will represent the UN system at the conference.
Background
The International Donors’ Conference will be held back-to-back with the European Humanitarian Forum, co-organised on 20 and 21 March 2023 by the European Commission and the Swedish Council Presidency. The Forum will take place in the context of sharply increasing humanitarian needs, changing geopolitical realities, and shrinking humanitarian space. It will provide a platform for European actors and international community to discuss ongoing humanitarian challenges, including the humanitarian funding gap and the need to broaden the donor base.
In addition to the International Donors’ Conference, on 14-15 June the EU will host the 7th Brussels conference on the Future of Syria and the Region.
1 of 5

Story
17 March 2023
Women volunteers play a life-saving role in the earthquake response
When the earthquakes struck southeastern Türkiye on February 6, the Community Volunteers Foundation immediately deployed its volunteers to the storage units in earthquake zones to classify, store and distribute urgent supplies to the survivors. Women volunteers have played a life-saving role in the response by ensuring that women and girls receive the aid and support they need.
Volunteers play an essential role in disaster response and emergencies, supporting the immediate needs of the survivors, assisting public institutions in delivering services, and aiding survivors who require care and support. After the earthquakes hit 11 provinces in southeast of Türkiye on the 6th of February, thousands of volunteers were deployed in the disaster areas to assist public institutions and help the survivors who lost their homes and loved ones to the devastating earthquakes.
Community Volunteers Foundation (TOG, for its acronym in Turkish), one of UN Women’s civil society partners, has worked tirelessly with its more than 800 volunteers, half of them are women, on the ground for the past month.
Just after the earthquakes, people, national and local institutions, civil society organizations and private companies from across the country started to send aid packages, blankets, and food items to the earthquake zones. The huge amount of aid required support from the volunteers.
Coming from all over the country, TOG volunteers, including earthquake survivors, were there to help. In coordination with public authorities, they have been sorting, storing and delivering these items to survivors, including women and girls since day one.
“The variety of humanitarian supplies has been changing every single day. One day, a truckload of hygiene products and sanitary pads comes; the other day there is none of these items. So, our work is very important as focal persons in the storage units to sort, pack, and deliver the immediate needs of the survivors,” says Rana Kara, 27, from İstanbul, who is a training expert at TOG.
Kara worked at one of the storage units at Hatay. She explains how the system works: “We classify and store the items, prepare aid packages according to the list of requirements shared by local authorities in the region and send them to tent settlements.”
Zilan Aydın (23) has been a TOG volunteer for the past five years. She was in her hometown Antalya, when the earthquakes hit the cities and she deployed to the earthquake zone right after that. She says that she went to a storage unit in Hatay to coordinate the aids and to set up the operation: “People come to the storage units to pick up the items they need. Often, men come and get these items for their families. Due to gender stereotypes and traditional values, sometimes men don’t know how to ask for sanitary pads, or they ask if their wives and daughters use the same type of sanitary pads. So, we decided to put sanitary pads and diapers into all aid boxes we prepare for the families.”
Aydın, also studying dentistry, shares her experiences and observations on the ground: “As a health professional, I see that many pregnant women are saying that they are bleeding, and they have a risk of miscarriage. I also witness that women tend to prioritize the needs of their children first, they want to take diapers and baby formula and put their needs in second place.”
Dilay Duman (34) has been a TOG volunteer for more than 15 years. She is currently working for a civil society organization in Mersin, a city in the south of Türkiye. Right after the earthquake, she deployed to her hometown Hatay as a volunteer of TOG. She says that it is very challenging to be a volunteer in times of disasters: “During disasters, you need to organize faster, be able to make decisions in a changing environment, and be more careful than ever while taking initiatives. As volunteers, we need to acknowledge the vulnerabilities of people including women and we need to be supportive in any case.”
Hazal Günel, Gender Equality Programs Specialist at TOG, says that women volunteers play a life-saving role in the earthquake response: “Women volunteers can ensure that different needs and priorities of women and girls are met. Their presence provides a gender lens at all levels of the humanitarian response. This is why we especially deployed women volunteers. We believe that women volunteers make a valuable contribution to assisting women experiencing difficulties in the earthquake zones.”
Günel says that their volunteers are assigned to seven different storage units in Hatay, Adıyaman and Kahramanmaraş, the most affected cities by the earthquakes. “Volunteers are deployed to work on the ground for a maximum of 5 days because of their well-being and the risk of secondary trauma. Their mental and physical health is essential for the sustainability of volunteer work on the ground,” she explains.
The Community Volunteers Foundation (TOG) works with youth and encourages them to participate in social responsibility projects as volunteers. The foundation is a partner organization of UN Women and implements a training programme for volunteers within the “Strong Civic Space for Gender Equality”, funded by the European Union.
If you would like to support UN Women’s efforts in the earthquake zone in Türkiye and Syria and help women, girls and their families who are in urgent need, please donate here.
1 of 5

Story
15 March 2023
Guterres calls for action to stamp out the poison of anti-Muslim hatred
"The world’s nearly 2 billion Muslims reflect humanity in all its magnificent diversity. But they often face bigotry and prejudice for no other reason than their faith" said UN Chief.
On his message for the first International Day to Combat Islamophobia the United Nations Secretary General António Guterres called for action to stamp out the poison of anti-Muslim hatred.
"Beyond structural, institutional discrimination and the wholesale stigmatization of Muslim communities, Muslims suffer personal attacks, hateful rhetoric, and scapegoating. We see some of the worst impacts in the triple discrimination against Muslim women because of their gender, ethnicity, and faith" he stated.
The growing hate that Muslims face is not an isolated development: it is part of the resurgence of ethno-nationalism, neo-Nazi white supremacist ideologies, and violence targeting vulnerable populations including Muslims, Jews, some minority Christian communities and others.
"Discrimination diminishes us all. And it is incumbent on all of us to stand up against it" he underlined.
Guterres said "We must strengthen our defenses by pushing for policies that fully respect human rights and protect religious and cultural identities. We must recognize diversity as richness and ramp up political, cultural, and economic investments in social cohesion."
"We must confront bigotry by working to tackle the hate that spreads like wildfire across the internet" stated the UN Chief.
"For well over a millennium, Islam’s message of peace, compassion, and grace has inspired people the world over. Every great faith and tradition summons the imperatives of tolerance, respect, and mutual understanding" continued Guterres his message.
He added "At the heart, we are dealing with universal values: they animate the United Nations Charter and lie at the core of our quest for justice, human rights, and peace."
"Today and every day, let us strive to realize these values and counter the forces of division by reaffirming our common humanity" ended Guterres his message.
1 of 5

Press Release
08 March 2023
UNDP launches recovery activities in earthquake-hit Southern Türkiye
Ankara, 8 March 2023 – One month after the devastating earthquakes that hit 11 provinces in Türkiye, killing more than 46,000 people, displacing 2.7 million (almost 20 percent of the region’s total population) and destroying more than 214,000 buildings, the needs remain vast yet the resources still scarce, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has warned. Of the US$1 billion requested under the UN “flash appeal” issued for Türkiye, only 10.4 percent has been funded as of today, with zero contributions so far towards “early recovery” efforts.
The emergency response led by the Government is currently providing shelter to 1.9 million people displaced by the earthquakes, with container cities rapidly taking shape to replace the many makeshift tent camps erected in the immediate wake of the disaster. Ambitious high-speed housing reconstruction plans have also been announced.
But the needs remain acute. “Now is the time for international solidarity,” said UNDP Resident Representative Louisa Vinton after visiting Adiyaman, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaras, Kilis and Samandag and speaking with local authorities on 4-6 March 2023. “This is a disaster unprecedented in its scope and scale, and the generosity of international donors needs to be proportionately large to ensure an adequate response.”
Assessments of damages and recovery costs are still under way, but the financial toll of the earthquakes is certain to be high. A rapid satellite-based assessment published by the World Bank on 27 February 2023 estimated physical damages at US$34.2 billion, with recovery likely to double or triple this sum. A longer-term needs assessment being led by the Government with support from UNDP, the World Bank and the European Union (EU) already counts the damages at over US$100 billion. Once completed, this assessment will structure the appeal for recovery and reconstruction funding at the EU donor conference in Brussels in March 2023.
“Even while awaiting vital funding, there is no time to lose in initiating recovery efforts,” said UNDP’s Vinton. “Now that we are one month into the disaster response, we need already to be taking steps to start rebuilding communities and restoring normal life.”
To this end, UNDP has committed US$1.8 million towards five different initiatives designed to start small but scale up rapidly. Of this total, US$500,000 comes from the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), with UNDP internal resources and redirected project funds covering the other $US1.3 million.
First, UNDP will support three emerging “container cities” by supplying sanitation and waste management facilities for residents. This effort is inspired by the work of Mert Firat, a popular actor who serves as UNDP Goodwill Ambassador in Türkiye. Firat is working through his Needs Map (İhtiyaç Haritası) organization to create a temporary container community for displaced families in Hatay, in coordination with the Government. Similar support will be provided to temporary settlements in Adiyaman and Kahramanmaras.
UNDP has already delivered US$110,000 in waste management and sanitation equipment to Hatay, working in partnership with the Nature Conservation Center (DKM). Sanitation and hygiene are just one of the many areas where special attention needs to be paid to the needs of women and girls. The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) estimates that 25,000 of 226,000 women who are now pregnant in the earthquake zone will deliver this month.
Second, UNDP will establish “mobile day care centers” in Hatay, Adiyaman and Kahramanmaras, working with the Ministry of Family and Social Services to provide social care, referral services and essential equipment such as wheelchairs and adult diapers to the elderly and persons with disabilities (PwDs) in disaster-affected areas.
“Local authorities in the affected regions uniformly highlighted this as a priority need,” said Vinton. “The disaster has left many older people isolated and traumatized. These mobile facilities will help us reach out to them where they are, whether to help fill in application forms, replace a lost cane or just lend a sympathetic ear.”
Third, in Hatay, where the destruction is truly apocalyptic, UNDP will work with KEDV, an association of local women’s cooperatives, to set up a mobile kitchen to deliver hot meals to vulnerable persons while purchasing food supplies from hard-hit local producers. UNDP thus aims to spend relief funding in a way that provides a lifeline for local business.
Fourth, in an effort to help the thousands of displaced persons who have taken refuge outside the affected region, UNDP will work with the Ministry of Industry and Technology to provide advisory support to small businesses and targeted vocational training to help those who have lost livelihoods get back on their feet again.
Fifth, UNDP will provide equipment and expertise to help safeguard irreplaceable cultural heritage monuments that were damaged in the earthquakes. “This region is a cradle of ancient civilizations, and a cultural crossroads where diversity has become a hallmark of local identity,” said Vinton. “Restoring this unique legacy will be central to rebuilding a community spirit.”
“These are modest efforts compared to the need,” explained Vinton. “But by showcasing what can be done already to start putting back together the pieces of a normal life, we hope to encourage an outpouring of financial support from our international donors.”
For more information on UNDP’s earthquake response priorities, see: https://www.undp.org/turkiye/publications/proposed-areas-undp-assistance-recovery-and-reconstruction-after-2023-earthquakes-turkiye
For more information:
Bahar Paykoç, Communications Associate for UNDP in Türkiye, bahar.paykoc@undp.org
1 of 5
Press Release
06 March 2023
One month on, more than 850,000 children remain displaced by deadly earthquakes in southern Türkiye and Syria
ANKARA/DAMASCUS/AMMAN/GENEVA, 6 March 2023 – One month on from the two catastrophic earthquakes that struck southern Türkiye and Syria, more than 850,000 children remain displaced after being forced from their damaged or destroyed homes.
The number of children killed and injured during the quakes and their aftermath has not yet been confirmed but is likely to be in the many thousands. The combined death toll from the earthquakes and aftershocks has reached more than 50,000 people with thousands of others injured and massive destruction to buildings and other essential infrastructure.
The impact of the earthquakes on the region's children and families has been catastrophic, leaving hundreds of thousands in desperate conditions. Many families have lost their homes and are now living in temporary shelters.
In Türkiye alone, over 1.9 million people are staying in temporary accommodation shelters with limited access to basic services such as water, sanitation and medical services in the affected areas. 2.5 million children in the country require urgent humanitarian assistance.
“Families forced from their homes by the earthquakes have spent the past four weeks focused on survival, their lives on hold while aftershocks continue to rumble,” said UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, Afshan Khan. “It is now critical to do all we can to help families begin to rebuild their lives – providing children with psychosocial support, getting them back into learning as soon as possible, and providing some stability amid the chaos.”
In Syria, more than 500,000 people are believed to have been forced from their homes by the earthquakes. Many families’ homes have been destroyed and many children are afraid to return to damaged homes as aftershocks continue. Even before the earthquakes, Syria had the largest number of internally displaced people in the world, with 6.8 million people displaced – including nearly three million children. Across Syria, more than 3.7 million children have been affected by the quakes.
“Even before these catastrophic earthquakes, humanitarian needs among children of Syria were higher than they have ever been,” said UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa Adele Khodr. “As we approach 12 long years of conflict, millions of families are living on the brink of disaster, feeling as if the world had forgotten them. We must support these families for the long term, helping them pick up the pieces of their lives.”
UNICEF has reached almost half a million people with lifesaving water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services and supplies, including through water trucking, solid waste management, desludging of septic tanks as well as the provision of family hygiene kits and other lifesaving supplies across Syria. Over 294,000 people, including those taking refuge in shelters, have been reached with essential supplies and medical consultations through UNICEF-supported health centres and mobile health teams. More than 130,000 under five-year-old children have been supported with nutrition services across the earthquake-affected areas. UNICEF has also reached more than 100,000 children and caregivers with psychological support, including psychological first aid, recreational activities, mental health psychosocial support and parenting sessions. Education supplies and recreational kits for distribution to schools and shelters to give children the chance to continue learning.
“Threats come thick and fast for families left vulnerable by the earthquake,” said Khodr. “A comprehensive, integrated response to support children and families is critical in preventing these threats from overwhelming an already catastrophic situation. UNICEF teams are there with children and families affected, but the needs are huge and continued support is vital.”
In Türkiye, UNICEF has distributed winter clothes, electrical heaters and blankets to nearly 277,000 people, including over 163,000 children. Working closely with the Ministry of Health, UNICEF is procuring life-saving vaccines and cold chain storage equipment. 258,000 people, including 148,000 children received hygiene supplies. UNICEF has been setting up child-friendly spaces near temporary accommodation centers and has so far provided psychosocial first aid and recreational activities to over 193,000 people. UNICEF has supported Türkiye’s Ministry of Education to set up 87 tents, which are being used as temporary learning centers. Catch up classes are running in two shifts benefiting nearly 3,600 children every day. UNICEF continues to identify unaccompanied and separated children and refer them for further support.
“Children have seen their whole world crumble before their eyes, but we know how to help them rebuild,” said Khan. “Providing children with the tools – psychosocial support, play and learning, and the stability brought by knowing that their basic needs are met – are immeasurably important in ensuring their long-term wellbeing.”
In Türkiye, UNICEF is requesting US$196 million to reach 3 million people, including 1.5 million children.
In Syria, UNICEF requires US$172.7 million to deliver immediate life-saving support for 5.4 million people (including 2.6 million children) impacted by the earthquake.
1 of 5
Press Release
28 February 2023
2.5 million children in Türkiye need urgent humanitarian assistance, says UNICEF Executive Director, following two-day visit to Türkiye
ANKARA, 28 February 2023 – UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell today concluded a two-day visit to Türkiye, where she met with children and families affected by the powerful earthquakes that hit southeast Türkiye and northern Syria earlier this month.
Russell highlighted the importance of psychosocial support for children affected, visiting a UNICEF-supported child-friendly space in Gaziantep, where children and parents receive mental health support and counselling to help them heal and recover. Russell also met with families in Kahramanmaraş, including Syrian refugee families, and saw the temporary accommodation centre that currently houses 17,000 people—nearly one-third of them children.
“The earthquakes were an absolutely cataclysmic event for children in affected communities,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “Walking around, you see fragments of families’ everyday lives, as if frozen in time. Amid an unimaginable level of destruction, with building after building reduced to rubble, you’ll see a blanket, a toy or a child’s book - remnants of young lives violently disrupted or cut short.”
Working closely with the Government of Türkiye including the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) and Presidency of Migration Management (PMM), UNICEF has been providing psychosocial support to children and families affected, setting up child-friendly and temporary learning spaces, identifying separated and unaccompanied children and reuniting them with their families or caregivers, assessing damage to water stations and services, as well as evaluating health and nutrition needs of affected people.
Across earthquake-affected areas of Türkiye, 2.5 million children need urgent humanitarian assistance. UNICEF has so far reached nearly 277,000 people—including over 163,000 children—with lifesaving supplies, including hygiene kits, winter clothes, electrical heaters and blankets. UNICEF, through its partners, has also reached over 198,000 individuals with psychological first aid and recreation activities in affected areas and other cities.
In Kahramanmaraş camp, Russell spoke to a 28-year-old mother of four, who “thought it was the end of the world” when she awoke during the first earthquake. “She described hearing screaming and shouting and then darkness,” said Russell. “She’s thankful that they all survived but believes it will take a long time for her children’s emotional wounds to fully heal. That is why providing psychosocial support to children affected is so critically important.”
The earthquakes and thousands of aftershocks have turned the lives of millions of children upside down and left many afraid, confused, and in desperate need of psychosocial support. Russell joined a group of children at a UNICEF-supported child-friendly centre where the children drew pictures of places that brought back good memories and thoughts for them. “I feel better after hearing the other children feel good,” Yagmur, an 8-year-old girl, told Russell.
“The physical destruction this earthquake brought is clear to all, but the less-visible, emotional toll on children is just as profound,” said Russell. “That’s why psychosocial support plays a critical part in helping children heal, and for families to rebuild their lives. By providing children with a safe space to express their feelings, connect with others, and rebuild their sense of security, we can help them heal and recover.”
UNICEF is also working to ensure that children are able to return to learning as soon as possible. The organization is assessing damage to schools and making preparations for immediate repairs and the establishment of temporary learning spaces.
In Türkiye, UNICEF is requesting US$196 million to reach 3 million people, including 1.5 million children, with critical supplies; water, sanitation and hygiene; health and nutrition; child protection; education; and humanitarian cash support to vulnerable children.
Media contacts
Sema Hosta
Chief of Communication
UNICEF in Turkey
Tel: +90 533 622 8346
Email: shosta@unicef.org
Joe English
UNICEF New York
Tel: +1 917 893 0692
Email: jenglish@unicef.org
1 of 5
Press Release
16 February 2023
UN issues call for $1 billion to help millions of people in Türkiye affected by devastating quakes
NEW YORK, 16 February 2023 – The United Nations today launched a three-month flash appeal for US$1 billion for Türkiye so that humanitarian agencies can help more than 5 million people affected by last week’s cataclysmic earthquakes — the largest to hit the country in a century — in support of the Government-led response.
“The people of Türkiye have experienced unspeakable heartache,” said Martin Griffiths, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, who visited the country last week. “I met families who shared their stories of shock and devastation. We must stand with them in their darkest hour and ensure they receive the support they need.”
More than 9 million people in Türkiye have been directly impacted by the once-in-a-generation disaster, with more than 35,000 people having lost their lives as of 15 February, according to the Turkish Government.
The earthquakes struck at the peak of winter, leaving hundreds of thousands of people – including small children and elderly people – without access to shelter, food, water, heaters and medical care in freezing temperatures. Some 47,000 buildings have been destroyed or damaged, and thousands of people have sought refuge in temporary shelters across Türkiye.
Schools, hospitals and other essential services have been damaged or destroyed by the earthquakes. Many families have been separated, with hundreds of children now orphaned or unable to be reunited with their parents.
Furthermore, Türkiye hosts the world’s largest number of refugees. More than 1.74 million refugees live in the 11 provinces impacted by the earthquakes, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
The UN is coordinating the operations of thousands of search-and-rescue personnel in Adiyaman, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş and Malatya Provinces, and humanitarian organizations have begun relief operations in the hardest-hit areas, in support of the Government-led response. The UN and its partners are delivering hot meals, food, tents, warm winter clothing, blankets, mattresses and kitchen sets to people in need and dispatching medical supplies and personnel to affected areas. Psychosocial support is being provided, and child-friendly spaces and safe spaces for women are being established.
The funding from today’s new appeal will target 5.2 million people. The resources will allow aid organizations to swiftly ramp up their operations to support Government-led response efforts in areas including food security, protection, education, water and shelter.
For further information, please contact:
Eri Kaneko (New York): + 1 917 208 8910, kaneko@un.org
Jens Laerke (Geneva): +41 (0) 79 472 9750, laerke@un.org
Flash appeal is available here.
Photos are available here. Video is available here.
1 of 5
Press Release
14 February 2023
One week on from devastating earthquakes, millions of children remain in need of urgent humanitarian assistance
NEW YORK/AMMAN/GENEVA, 13 February 2023 – Seven days after two devastating earthquakes and more than 1,600 aftershocks hit south-east Türkiye and Syria – causing widespread destruction and taking the lives of thousands of people – UNICEF is warning that millions of children are in need of urgent humanitarian support.
While the total number of children affected remains unclear, 4.6 million children live in the 10 provinces of Türkiye hit by the earthquakes, and more than 2.5 million children are affected in Syria.
"The children and families of Türkiye and Syria are facing unimaginable hardship in the aftermath of these devastating earthquakes," said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “We must do everything in our power to ensure that everyone who survived this catastrophe receives life-saving support, including safe water, sanitation, critical nutrition and health supplies, and support for children's mental health. Not only now, but over the long term.”
The number of children killed and injured during the quakes and their aftermath has not yet been confirmed but is likely to be in the many thousands. The official total death toll has now passed 35,000.
The impact of the earthquakes on the region's children and families has been catastrophic, leaving hundreds of thousands in desperate conditions. Many families have lost their homes and are now living in temporary shelters, often in freezing conditions and with snow and rain adding to their suffering. The earthquakes have also caused widespread damage to schools and other essential infrastructure, further jeopardizing the well-being of children and families. Access to safe water and sanitation is also a major concern, as are the health needs of the affected population.
UNICEF has been working around the clock to provide life-saving assistance to those affected by the earthquakes. UNICEF teams on the ground have been working with partners to distribute essential supplies such as critical health supplies, blankets, clothing, and safe drinking water and sanitation supplies, as well as continuing to provide safe spaces for children to play and recover from the traumatic events they have witnessed.
Despite these efforts, the needs of the affected population are enormous, and the challenges are many and complex. Damage and destruction of key roads and infrastructure, along with the freezing conditions, snow, and rain have made it difficult to reach those in need and to provide the necessary aid. Many first responders and staff of UNICEF partner organisations have been killed, injured, displaced, and their offices and equipment destroyed, damaged, or out of commission.
In the coming days and weeks, UNICEF will continue to work with partners to reach as many children and families as possible with life-saving assistance.
In Syria, UNICEF is working to provide much-needed aid to those affected by the earthquakes. The organization had already prepositioned supplies in northwest Syria, which have started to be distributed to as many people as possible. Immediate priorities include providing access to safe drinking water and sanitation services, which are critical in preventing illness in the early days of a crisis. UNICEF is assessing the impact of the earthquakes on main water stations and working to provide safe water to those displaced. UNICEF has deployed Mobile Health and Nutrition teams to provide health and nutrition services and supplies to those in need, including those who have taken refuge in shelters.
In Türkiye, UNICEF’s immediate priority is to ensure children and families affected receive the support they desperately need. UNICEF’s response is focusing on child protection, providing immediate psychosocial support in child friendly spaces, assessing main water stations and services, and health and nutrition needs, distributing winter clothes for children, blankets, and family and travel hygiene kits. UNICEF and the Ministry of Youth and Sports are also mobilizing an additional 5,000 youth volunteers to work alongside local response teams. This will complement the over 3,000 youth volunteers already supporting the response.
In both Türkiye and Syria, child protection is a high priority for UNICEF, including the identification and reunification of separated and unaccompanied children and providing psychosocial support to children who may have been exposed to traumatizing experiences.
UNICEF is also working to ensure that children are able to return to learning as soon as possible. The organization is assessing damage to schools and making preparations for immediate repairs and the establishment of temporary learning spaces. In affected parts of Syria, schools have been suspended until at least 18 February 2023 and in Türkiye until 1 March in the 10 affected provinces, while search, rescue, and recovery efforts are ongoing.
#####
Notes for editors:
Multimedia materials available here.: https://weshare.unicef.org/Package/2AMZIFQ2X3YU
ABOUT UNICEF
UNICEF works in some of the world's toughest places, to reach the world's most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.
For more information about UNICEF and its work for children visit www.unicef.org
Follow UNICEF on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube
For more information:
Sema Hosta, UNICEF Türkiye, +90 533 622 8346 shosta@unicef.org
1 of 5
Latest Resources
1 / 11
Resources
13 April 2022
1 / 11