Turkey-Syria
Earthquake
Appeal
Turkey-Syria
Earthquake Appeal
Your donations are helping people in Turkey and Syria as they continue to rebuild their lives after the devastating earthquakes in February 2023.
This appeal is now closed for donations. Funds will be spent up until the end of July 2025.
Güneş* with her mother Asi* at a DEC-funded Women and Children's Centre run by Oxfam KEDV in Hatay, Turkey, to support families living in prefabricated shelters after the earthquakes in February 2023. Image: Özge Sebzeci/Fairpicture/DEC
£160 million raised. Thank you!
Two years on, the DEC Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal has supported 4.6 million* people as they rebuild their lives.
Thanks to your incredibly generous donations, over £160 million has been raised, including £5 million matched by the UK Government, making it one of the largest DEC appeals in history.
DEC charities and their local partners have provided emergency shelter, clean water, food, cash to meet people's immediate needs, access to healthcare and help to restore their livelihoods.
The appeal is now closed for donations but funds will continue to help people until the end of July 2025.
* While efforts have been made to avoid counting people twice, some people may have been helped more than once by different member charities.
DEC funds help this women's cooperative in Hatay, Turkey, produce their signature 'love jam' made from locally grown Samandağ peppers, as part of a livelihood support initiative run by Oxfam KEDV. Image: Özge Sebzeci/Fairpicture/DEC
HOW WE HELPED IN THE FIRST 18 MONTHS
DEC appeals always include a six-month emergency response period, followed by a second phase, focused on recovery and rebuilding lives. Over the first eighteen months of response, DEC charities and their local partners continued to support people with urgent essentials such as medical care, cash assistance and clean water.
They also helped them to start rebuilding their livelihoods through tools, training and business grants, and provided specialist mental health support as people processed their trauma.
1.2 million
350,000
285,000
269,000
43,000
30,000
Timeline of the appeal
Earthquakes hit Turkey and Syria
At 4:17am, as people sleep in their beds, a devastating earthquake hits southeast Turkey and northwest Syria, followed by another hours later. Nearly 18 million people are left in need of immediate humanitarian assistance.
DEC charities begin providing emergency aid within hours of the disaster including food, clean water, shelter and cash support.
Over the coming weeks the death toll rises to over 50,000.
DEC charities begin providing emergency aid within hours of the disaster including food, clean water, shelter and cash support.
Over the coming weeks the death toll rises to over 50,000.
Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal launch
The DEC Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal is launched and donations pour in from the public with support from community fundraisers, celebrities, corporate partners, the royal family and the UK, Scottish and Welsh governments.
DEC charities scale up their work through local partners as an incredibly generous response makes this one of the largest ever DEC appeals.
In the first two weeks of the appeal, over £100 million is raised.
DEC charities scale up their work through local partners as an incredibly generous response makes this one of the largest ever DEC appeals.
In the first two weeks of the appeal, over £100 million is raised.
Search and rescue operation ends
As hopes of finding more survivors fade, focus shifts to supporting people longer term. With over 300,000 buildings destroyed or badly damaged, including homes, hospitals and schools, the challenge is immense.
In March, the Turkish government announces plans to move families from tents to container sites. In northwest Syria, DEC charities scale up their work though local partners who have been supporting communities affected by years of conflict.
In March, the Turkish government announces plans to move families from tents to container sites. In northwest Syria, DEC charities scale up their work though local partners who have been supporting communities affected by years of conflict.
Emergency response phase ends
Six months after the disaster, an extreme heatwave adds to the suffering of people living in camp conditions. It comes after many areas endured freezing tempratures earlier in the year, followed by flooding.
Donations to the DEC appeal reach an incredible £150 million. Meanwhile DEC charities end the initial phase of their response and begin focusing on rebuilding lives and livelihoods over the next 18 months.
Donations to the DEC appeal reach an incredible £150 million. Meanwhile DEC charities end the initial phase of their response and begin focusing on rebuilding lives and livelihoods over the next 18 months.
One year on
An incredible £158.5 million has been raised so far, and DEC charities have supported over a million people.
For those most vulnerable, meeting their immediate needs remains a priority. Others are taking steps towards recovery, restoring their livelihoods, accessing healthcare and getting support through mental health services.
Your donations are continuing to help people in both countries rebuild their lives.
For those most vulnerable, meeting their immediate needs remains a priority. Others are taking steps towards recovery, restoring their livelihoods, accessing healthcare and getting support through mental health services.
Your donations are continuing to help people in both countries rebuild their lives.
Appeal closure
The DEC’s appeal is now closed, but donations to the appeal will continue to be spent until the end of July 2025.
In the coming months in Turkey, our members will continue towards protecting vulnerable groups, including refugees, and providing mental health support using DEC funds. In Syria, the response includes healthcare support. There is also a greater emphasis on helping people rebuild their livelihoods so that they can support themselves again following the earthquakes.
In the coming months in Turkey, our members will continue towards protecting vulnerable groups, including refugees, and providing mental health support using DEC funds. In Syria, the response includes healthcare support. There is also a greater emphasis on helping people rebuild their livelihoods so that they can support themselves again following the earthquakes.
Appeal programmes extended
In Syria, the political change in December 2024 has meant many of those affected by the earthquakes are looking to return to their communities, and to check on their homes and businesses.
This has had a significant impact on the areas where DEC charities and their local partners are supporting people.
DEC programmes are extended for a further six months to allow member agencies time to adjust and adapt their programmes as people return to communities and process what has happened.
This has had a significant impact on the areas where DEC charities and their local partners are supporting people.
DEC programmes are extended for a further six months to allow member agencies time to adjust and adapt their programmes as people return to communities and process what has happened.
Two years on
Two years on from the devastating earthquakes, DEC charities have supported more than £4.6 million* people across Turkey and Syria as they rebuild their lives.
The Appeal is now closed for donations, but funds will continue to be spent until the end of July 2025.
They are continuing to provide vital aid to families living in camps in both Turkey and Syria, as well as supporting people with tools, grants and training as they rebuild their livelihoods, and mental health support as they process their trauma and grief.
The Appeal is now closed for donations, but funds will continue to be spent until the end of July 2025.
They are continuing to provide vital aid to families living in camps in both Turkey and Syria, as well as supporting people with tools, grants and training as they rebuild their livelihoods, and mental health support as they process their trauma and grief.
Murshid* at the shop where he now works after being provided with livelihood support by the local partner of DEC charity Age International. Image: Ali Haj Suleiman/Fairpicture/DEC
How donations have been helping people in Turkey and Syria
Two years on from the devastating earthquakes in 2023, here are some stories of how DEC charities have been helping people rebuild their lives.
In Syria, Murshid* (left) has been able to find work and earn a living to support his family once again.
In Turkey, Seray is running a women's cooperative that produces food and helps bring the community together to heal.
Tap segments to see a breakdown
Humanitarian programmes between February 2023 and July 2024:
- Cash support and vouchers
- 28%
- Water, sanitation, hygiene
- 24%
- Healthcare
- 10%
- Livelihood support
- 9%
- Food
- 8%
- Shelter
- 8%
- Other
- 7%
- Protection
- 6%
SUPPORTING EVERYDAY LIFE
In the aftermath of the earthquakes, DEC charities reached survivors with emergency food, water, shelter and warm items for winter.
Two years later, with many families still living in tents or shipping containers, your donations continue to support people with everyday life. DEC charities have been distributing cash vouchers so people can regain their independence and buy the basic supplies they need.
Child-friendly areas in camps are providing children with a safe place to play and socialise, and community spaces for women are allowing them to work together to improve living conditions and continue restoring some normality to their lives.
IMPROVING HEALTH AND WELLBEING
The earthquakes damaged many health facilities and led to an increase in health issues from injuries and the spread of illness in camps. Following the disaster, DEC charities established mobile health clinics in affected areas and restocked hospitals, providing vital medical aid - and the work continues.
They are supporting healthcare facilities to ensure the most vulnerable are receiving the care they need, particularly in Syria where access to medical support remains scarce for those living in camps.
The mental health impact of the disaster has been huge for both adults and children. DEC charities have been working with local partners to provide counselling and specialist psychosocial support, helping people on the long journey towards healing.
Your donations have been a lifeline.
REBUILDING LIVES AND LIVELIHOODS
The earthquakes took a terrible toll on people’s livelihoods - with businesses destroyed, crops devastated, and livestock killed.
DEC charities have been providing vocational training to those impacted, as well as grants for tools and businesses so people can return to work. For some vulnerable groups such as women and older people, training has allowed them to access paid employment for the first time.
Earning an income not only offers financial relief, but it can also improve mental wellbeing, providing a sense of purpose as people begin to look towards the future.
The road to recovery is long, but your support is making a difference.
Appeal News
The latest on the appeal and the humanitarian situation in Turkey and Syria.
Jump to
Two years since earthquakes devastated Turkey and Syria
6 February 2025
Two years on from the devastating earthquakes, DEC charities have supported £4.6 million* people across Turkey and Syria as they rebuild their lives.
DEC charities are continuing to provide vital aid to families living in camps in both Turkey and Syria, as well as supporting people with tools, grants and training as they rebuild their livelihoods, and mental health support as they process their trauma and grief.
Find out more about how DEC charities have been helping people in Turkey and Syria here.
The DEC Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal closes but programmes continue
3 June 2024
The DEC’s appeal is now closed, but donations to the appeal will continue to be spent until the end of July 2025. Some of the DEC’s member charities are continuing their work in Turkey and Syria with funding from other sources.
If you would like to support their ongoing work, please follow the links below to donate:
International Women's Day 2024: Three women in Turkey I'll never forget
8 March 2024
Zeynep, aged 40, with three of her children in their tent home. Photo: Özge Sebzeci/Fairpicture/DEC
On International Women's Day, the DEC's Shagufta Yaqub remembers three women she met in the aftermath of the February 2023 earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria.
Zeynep had broken her back when a wall collapsed on her during the earthquake that hit Turkey in February last year. Yet she was still the backbone of her family, holding it together for everyone through immense pain, physical and emotional turmoil. This International Women’s Day I want to share the stories of three women who are putting others first, despite their own challenges.
Independent: One year on from the Turkey-Syria earthquakes - How UK donations are helping people recover
10 February 2024
The Independent details the DEC's response to the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.
The article features images from a variety of DEC charities and the many ways they have used DEC funds to support people affected by the devastating earthquakes.
ITV: Shipping container homes and trauma is reality for Turkish citizens struck by earthquake one year on
6 February 2024
In a report from ITV news the DEC's Director of Programmes and Accountability, Madara Hettiarachchi, writes about her experience in Hatay, one of the areas worst affected by the earthquakes.
'The first thing that strikes you when you visit Hatay, southern Turkey, is the sheer scale of the destruction wrought by the devastating earthquakes that hit the area one year ago.' she writes.
Madara has been in southern Turkey one year on from the earthquakes, visiting projects funded by the Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal.
iNews: My dying friend called me from under Turkey earthquake rubble, begging for help
6 February 2024
One year on from the earthquakes, iNews's Global Affairs Correspondent Molly Blackall recently travelled to southern Turkey, visiting projects supported by the DEC Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal.
In her article she highlights the stories of Syrian refugees who had been affected by the earthquakes. She talks about meeting Beyda, whose children receiving phycological support from a school set up by DEC charity International Rescue Committee.
Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal raises £158.5 million
6 February 2024
One year after devastating earthquakes hit Turkey and Syria, the DEC appeal has now raised an incredible £158.5 million, making it one of our largest ever appeals.
Thank you for your generosity.
Syria: Hospital staff put fears aside to help survivors
31 January 2024
Haneen, Chief of Nursing at a hospital, sees to a patient. Photo: Sonya Al Ali Maara/Action Aid
Nurse Haneen is one of the many staff in a camp hospital in Syria who put her patients first in the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes.
The hospital is supported by Violet, the local partner of DEC charity ActionAid, with DEC funds covering the cost of the emergency department and maternity and neonatal wards.
The hospital is a lifeline for displaced families in northwest Syria, where 84% of the population need health assistance after years of conflict have devastated health infrastructure.
Film inspired by earthquake survivors working at a DEC-funded hospital in northwest Syria supported by DEC charity ActionAid. Credit: Don't Panic/Academy/DEC
