After the earth shook in the border region between Türkiye and Syria, life there came to a standstill. Entire neighborhoods were completely destroyed, and millions of people lost their livelihoods. In Türkiye, the areas most affected—measured by the number of fatalities—are Hatay, Gaziantep, Adıyaman, and Kahramanmaraş. People had to seek refuge in makeshift shelters and tent settlements, where they lacked access to clean drinking water, food, medical care, and sanitation facilities. Additionally, many of those affected were traumatized and required psychosocial support. In Türkiye alone, 13 million people were impacted—one in every six residents.

The affected provinces were already home to many disadvantaged groups who received little support and humanitarian aid. Among them are Syrian refugees who sought shelter in Turkish cities after the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011. Even before the earthquake disaster, they faced disadvantages in education, healthcare, housing, and the labor market. The crisis has dramatically worsened their situation. For marginalized groups living on the fringes of society and cities, there is no large-scale aid available.

Solidar Suisse is working together with local partner organizations in Türkiye to support the affected people. The focus is on disadvantaged groups in remote areas who receive little assistance. Our projects include the rehabilitation of shelters, the distribution of winter kits, the promotion of income-generating measures, and psychosocial support. Additionally, we strengthen local government institutions by enhancing their capacity in disaster management and humanitarian aid.

In Syria, we focus on the rehabilitation of shelters and community infrastructure, as well as the protection of vulnerable children. Through targeted interventions and close collaboration with local actors, we address the most urgent needs and promote the resilience and long-term recovery of communities.