The humanitarian crisis following the 7.8 magnitude earthquake ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌







Dear friend,

One year after the massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Northwest Syria, many are still living among rubble, have no permanent home, and don’t have enough to eat.

Of the 4.5 million Syrians living in the region, 4.1 million are in need of humanitarian assistance and 3.5 million are at risk of going hungry. Mercy Corps was on the ground in Syria prior to the earthquake and has been delivering urgently needed aid over the last year.
"People were standing above the rubble and hearing the voices of their families and relatives a few meters away, but they could not do anything to rescue them," a Mercy Corps team member reported following the massive earthquake that hit Syria.
Compounding crises
The February 6, 2023, earthquake and thousands of aftershocks had a catastrophic effect on Northwest Syria. The region was already fragile due to more than a decade of war, economic instability, and food insecurity, and lacked the proper structures to effectively respond to a disaster at this scale.

More than 170,000 people were displaced due to the earthquake, joining 1.9 million Syrians who were already living in displacement camps. Overcrowding in camps has put pressure on local resources including clean water and access to food.

Winter temperatures have exacerbated the already dire situation, especially for the 800,000 people who are living in tents. They’re trying to stay warm amid rain, flooding, wind, and snow.

In addition, escalating violence in the Middle East and Syria, in particular, threaten to displace more families and worsen access to basic needs like clean water and food. Learn more about Mercy Corps’ work in Syria.
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Mercy Corps’ response
Mercy Corps recently completed construction of a new dignified shelter area at a camp in Northwest Syria.
Because Mercy Corps worked in Northwest Syria since 2008, we had already established local suppliers to source items that were needed immediately following the earthquake. Mercy Corps quickly delivered shelter kits, hygiene kits, blankets, jerrycans, and other essential supplies to displacement camps and communities affected by the disaster.

The earthquake caused mud and soil to contaminate water supplies, threatening a spike in waterborne diseases. Mercy Corps team members also hurried to assess and repair damage to boreholes that supply clean water across the camps and communities where we work.

In the months following the earthquake, we built a dignified shelter area at a camp in Northwest Syria. The 60 housing units include a sewer system, reliable drainage and rainwater harvesting systems, road graveling, solar power, garbage bins, and fire extinguishers.

We will continue to provide support to deliver clean water, food, shelter, and sanitation services in the region, and improve economic opportunities for Syrians displaced by conflict and disaster.

Our global humanitarian response has helped change the lives of families in Syria and 40+ countries. We will keep you updated as our work progresses.

Sincerely,

Nicole Hark
Syria Country Director
Mercy Corps