Families shelter at a mosque in the Suliman AlHalabi neighbourhood of Aleppo, Syria, which has been turned into a collective shelter after two powerful earthquakes struck the region on 6 February. The 7.7 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes hit south-eastern Türkiye and northern Syria, killing nearly 20,000 people. ; UNHCR is supporting relief efforts in Türkiye and Syria in the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes on 6 February 2023. The disaster has struck a region that has been facing one of the world’s largest humanitarian emergencies, with Türkiye, the world’s largest refugee host country, accommodating more than 3.5 million Syrian refugees, and Syria having faced more than 12 years of crisis in which millions have been forced to flee and remain in need of humanitarian assistance. 

UNHCR is on the ground in Syria providing emergency supplies including high-thermal blankets, mattresses and other supplies, as severe winter storms sweep through the region. In Türkiye, UNHCR teams are assisting refugee and local populations alike in response to the government’s request to provide emergency assistance, and are providing kitchen sets, mattresses and tents.

Cooperation with UNHCR: earthquakes in Turkey and Syria and anniversary of the conflict in Ukraine

At the beginning of February, violent earthquakes occurred in Turkey and Syria, the aftershocks of which continue to hit the region, forcing UNHCR to move quickly to help the area, where there are currently more than 24 million people affected and 50,000 fatalities.

As a result of this event, COMSA Corporación launched an appeal for collaboration through donations via our Solidarity Payroll Programme or directly from the UNHCR website. For this reason, we would like to thank all contributors for their help, and the total amount of contributions has increased by 35% compared to the previous month.

In the current context where, among other emergencies, the first anniversary of the conflict in Ukraine is being held, with more than 8 million people displaced throughout Europe, support for organisations such as UNHCR is more necessary than ever.

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