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100 days later

A view from Türkiye and Syria

By United Nations Development Programme

May 15^th, 2023

Türkiye

It’s been 100 days since devastating earthquakes hit 11 provinces in southern Türkiye.

More than 50,700 people were killed, 3.3 million displaced and over 313,000 buildings have been destroyed.

Three months later 2.8 million people are still living in tents and other makeshift accommodation, with 2.2 million of these lacking even basic services.

The 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck southern and central Türkiye and northern and western Syria on 6 February 2023 caused an unimaginable level of destruction and shattered the livelihood of millions. Photo: UNDP Türkiye/ Levent Kulu

UNDP has already provided equipment and supplies worth more than US$1.5 million and a further US$28 million has been mobilized for the tasks ahead.

In the earliest days, UNDP provided emergency sanitation supplies and personal protective gear to Hatay municipality, using ongoing project funds repurposed with the kind permission of the Government of Japan. The vast volume of earthquake rubble –more than 100 million cubic metres – needs to be managed in an environmentally sound way. With funds already secured from Japan and Kuwait, UNDP will build recycling centres this summer.

UNDP is already supplying drinking water and wastewater treatment facilities for three container cities being constructed in Hatay, Adıyaman and Kahramanmaraş by the Needs Map NGO, founded by UNDP Türkiye Goodwill Ambassador Mert Fırat. The settlements are expected to welcome their first residents in June.

Seventeen dormitory containers have been delivered to İŞKUR, the Turkish national employment agency, in Adıyaman, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş and Malatya. İŞKUR lost many of its premises in the earthquakes, and many of its staff were homeless.

In April, UNDP delivered 25 containers to the Hatay firefighting service.

For archaeological museums in Hatay and Kahramanmaraş UNDP delivered 20 containers equipped with air-conditioning units to ensure proper climate control for storing priceless historical artifacts while restoration is undertaken by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

“UNDP is seeking funding to support a broader effort to rebuild damaged cultural heritage. This region is a huge cultural mosaic, a treasure house not just for Türkiye but for the world, which shows the potential of cultural coexistence,” said UNDP Türkiye Resident Representative Louisa Vinton.

A street-sweeping truck and other waste management equipment were delivered to the municipality of Kilis in April to mark the launch of a new US$1.9 million earthquake response programme by UNDP and the United Kingdom. The UK will also fund mobile care services for the elderly and persons with disabilities and vocational training for earthquake survivors.

UNDP is cooperating with the Turkish Psychologists Association to provide trauma therapy and psychosocial support to those who need it.

The Türkiye Earthquakes Recovery and Reconstruction Assessment (TERRA), conducted by the Turkish government with support from UNDP, the UN, the EU and the World Bank, estimated the total damages at US$103.6 billion, equivalent to 9 percent of Türkiye’s forecast GDP for 2023.

Following the International Donors’ Conference that mobilized US$6.5 billion, UNDP is asking donor countries to provide US$550 million for 31 “build back better” projects to restore livelihoods, public services and cultural heritage.

“The scope of the destruction is unprecedented. This is why we expect equally unprecedented commitments from global donors,” says Ms Vinton.

UNDP's “Building back better”initiative proposes 31 projects in the areas of crisis response, restoration of critical infrastructure, support to livelihoods and socioeconomic and support to vulnerable groups. Photo: UNDP Türkiye/Levent Kulu

Syria

Syria had not experienced an earthquake of this magnitude since the 1822 earthquake that devastated Aleppo City.

It affected the lives of 8.8 million people in Aleppo, Hama, Idleb, Lattakia, and Tartous. Over 470,000 remain displaced and more than 6.2 million people need protection.

It is estimated that the recovery will cost US$14.8 billion over the next three years.

UNDP’s “Whole of Syria” early recovery approach is helping communities restore normalcy. It’s focussed on getting basic services and infrastructure up and running and assisting people to find dignified work.

“The most pressing need is to find proper shelter, restore basic services like water supply, sanitation and access to energy and ensure that all protection needs are adequately met. We will also need to quickly restore livelihoods through emergency jobs so that not only some sense of self-reliance is restored but also to help people heal faster by making the victims feel helpful and productive,” said Sudipto Mukerjee, UNDP Syria Resident Representative.

The earthquake has added to the millions of cubic meters of debris that is the result of the country’s decade-long crisis.

Rebuilding can’t begin until it is cleared.

Around 137,000 cubic metres of debris will be removed with support from the Government of Japan, SCHF. Over 16,946 cubic metres has been cleared so far, which created 520 temporary jobs and improved access to over 1.9 million people.

It is estimated that the recovery needs amount to approximately US$14.8 billion over three years. Photo: UNDP Syria/Adeeb Alsayed

UNDP’s jobs and livelihood interventions benefited about 6,400 people. And it is supporting the recovery of small businesses. One hundred and seventy women-led businesses have received small grants, and other help such as rental subsidies.

It is clear from the magnitude of the disaster, and the vulnerability of Syrians already, that recovery will be long and difficult. Time is of the essence, and without adequate resources and a strategic approach, many more people will require humanitarian assistance by 2024.