By including more mobile staff in earthquake response efforts, UNFPA is expanding its services to people who are in the greatest need in Türkiye, a bulletin states.
In the earthquake-affected regions of Türkiye, about 8,900 people received life-saving assistance for sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and gender-based violence (GBV), including dignity and maternity kits.
The $19.7 million earthquake reaction appeal from UNFPA seeks to assist 1.5 million people in need of life-saving humanitarian aid. Only 23% of the appeal has so far received funding.
Following the two earthquakes on February 6 and the earthquake on February 20, a further earthquake with a magnitude of 5.4 struck the Malatya province on February 27, inflicting hundreds more injuries.
The earthquakes in southeast Türkiye affected 11 provinces, including Kahramanmaras, Adana, Adyaman, Diyarbakr, Elaz, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye, and anlurfa. These provinces have a combined population of around 15.8 million people, including 1.7 million refugees.
The impacted provinces saw the evacuation of 500,000 people. To satisfy the need for shelter in the affected provinces, the authorities have erected about 350.000 tents and 8.500 containers.
Around 45.000 individuals perished in the earthquakes (as of 1 March).
While many healthcare facilities have been damaged or services have been interrupted, access to safe deliveries and post-natal care is a serious concern.
In the impacted areas, there is a critical need for mobile and temporary service units as well as SRH supplies.
UNFPA is a part of the UN Earthquake Response Coordination Mechanism’s Health and Protection sectors. UNFPA also participates in the Earthquake response Information Monitoring Working Group, which will keep track of the accomplishments made in response to the earthquake flash appeal.
For the initial quick reaction, $4.5 million, including UNFPA emergency funds, has been raised to pay for life-saving SRH and GBV services, such as Inter-Agency RH Kits, dignity Kits, and pregnancy Kits. This amounts to 23% of UNFPA’s $19.7 million fundraising goal for its earthquake response in Turkey.
In order to raise money for women and girls who have been impacted by the earthquake in Türkiye and the surrounding area, UNFPA has launched national and international fundraising efforts that are aimed at individuals and donations from the private sector.
