Humanitarian support in Türkiye (Turkey)
How the Red Cross is helping communities recover from the 2023 earthquake.
Last updated 30 October 2025
In February 2023, powerful earthquakes struck southern Türkiye, killing over 50,000 people and forcing more than 3 million to leave their homes.
The disaster affected communities hosting large numbers of refugees from Syria. The devastating earthquake made humanitarian needs even more urgent.
The Red Cross and Red Crescent is helping communities recover and support long-term resilience.
How did the earthquake affect communities in Türkiye?
The earthquakes of 6 February 2023 caused catastrophic damage across southern Türkiye. More than 50,000 people lost their lives and over 100,000 were injured.
Entire neighbourhoods were reduced to rubble. Over 230,000 buildings, including hospitals, schools, and homes, were destroyed or severely damaged. Millions were left without electricity, water, or heating during freezing winter conditions.
Türkiye still hosts approximately 2.5 million refugees from Syria today. The earthquakes destroyed shelters, disrupted livelihoods, and exposed families to legal and social challenges in recovery.
The long-term consequences are severe. They include:
- Disrupted education
- Loss of caregivers
- Increased protection risks, especially for women, girls, and children, who have left communities in urgent need of support to rebuild and recover.
What is the Red Cross and Red Crescent doing to help?
The STRIVE (Supporting Transition, Recovery, Inclusion & Vocational Empowerment) program helps communities in Türkiye recover. It boosts economic resilience for refugees and host populations.
Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and delivered through the British Red Cross, it’s locally led by Turkish Red Crescent (Türk Kızılay) with support from the IFRC.
How STRIVE helps people:
- Supports recovery and long-term resilience through training, language classes, job fairs, and small business support.
- Provides tailored support for people most in need, connecting them with work opportunities.
- Boosts small businesses and local economies in Türkiye’s hardest-hit provinces by providing grants.
- Strengthens social cohesion by supporting both refugees and Turkish host communities, with a focus on gender equality and disaster resilience.
- Shapes future policy and practice, helping people get work permits after the project ends.
Find out more about the 2023 earthquake
Response to the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake
Find out more about the Red Cross and Red Crescent response.
Helping 6 million people in Syria
From psychosocial support to medical care to small businesses - we've been supporting Syria in any way we can.