Solidarity with Turkey and Syria: 3 Years of Support

On 6 February 2023, southern Turkey and northern Syria were struck by two earthquakes of unprecedented magnitude, causing more than 50,000 deaths and leaving hundreds of thousands injured and homeless. As soon as the disaster was announced, Fondation de France, already present in the region for several years, launched an appeal for solidarity to provide emergency assistance to affected populations. €11 million of the €13.8 million raised has been devoted to the deployment of 108 initiatives in the affected territories.

In southern Turkey, the earthquakes caused massive destruction across ten provinces home to 15 million people, including 1.7 million Syrian refugees benefiting from temporary protection. Three years after the disaster, many families are still living in container cities, due to the lack of reconstructed housing, and are struggling to meet their essential needs, including food, access to water, electricity or healthcare.

In north-western Syria, the humanitarian situation remains extremely concerning. In the governorates of Idlib and northern Aleppo, around 4 million people, the majority of whom are forcibly displaced, are living in temporary shelters with limited access to drinking water and healthcare. The majority of families no longer have regular sources of income and are living in severe precarity, forced to rely on occasional or informal activities.

Fondation de France remains mobilised to support civil and humanitarian organisations. Its three priorities are: supporting the most vulnerable populations, particularly women, children, people with disabilities and older people; strengthening healthcare and psychosocial support systems; and promoting economic and agricultural recovery, drawing on local expertise.

Supporting the Most Vulnerable

In the cities of Hatay and Adıyaman, in south-eastern Turkey, the Sosyal Ben Foundation has created a centre dedicated to children and young people aged 7 to 18 living in container cities. The centre offers educational and recreational workshops (painting, music, sport, science, creative writing, etc.), enabling children to rebuild emotionally and continue their learning. Guidance, psychosocial support and practical information are also provided to families.

In Aleppo, an NGO* welcomes children and adolescents into a safe space open to all, with particular attention given to displaced or orphaned children. A library, reading areas and games are open daily to residents of the neighbourhood. The organisation provides individual and group psychosocial support sessions, as well as educational activities (literacy, maths skills, creative learning) and recreational workshops (theatre, sport, board games). It also organises awareness sessions for children and their parents on children’s rights, hygiene and risk prevention.

In the Jisr Ash-Shugur region, in north-western Syria, the organisation ELAF supports people with disabilities, with particular attention given to women, who are often the most marginalised. They can undertake vocational training to promote their economic independence: developing income-generating activities, marketing handicraft products or supporting the development of local micro-enterprises. The organisation provides tailored support and mentoring intended to sustain the launch and long-term viability of economic activities, following an assessment of each individual’s capacities and needs. It may also award micro-grants.

Healing Bodies and Minds

The earthquakes in Turkey and Syria have left lasting physical and psychological consequences. Fondation de France supports initiatives such as the one carried out in the Syrian region of Idlib, in the town of Maaret Tamsrin, for children with disabilities, particularly those with autism or Down’s syndrome, as well as their families. The organisation* has created a specialised centre where children can benefit from psychological support, therapeutic activities and educational workshops to develop their abilities, improve communication and gain greater independence. Families are also offered practical advice to better support their children in daily life.

In the cities of Hatay, Kahramanmaraş and Gaziantep in Turkey, the organisation Habitat works with children, young people and women to help them overcome the trauma caused by the earthquake. It organises psychosocial workshops to help them better manage stress and strengthen their self-confidence. The organisation also organises events such as sports meetings and arts festivals, enabling families to come together and share moments of comfort and solidarity.

Contributing to Economic and Agricultural Recovery

In response to the precarity and difficulties faced by populations in Turkey and Syria, Fondation de France supports initiatives aimed at contributing to agricultural and economic recovery.

In Aleppo, an NGO* supports around thirty particularly vulnerable women in regaining economic activity and achieving sustainable independence. It provides vocational training in the production of dairy products and detergents, complemented by training in management and marketing to enable them to develop and market their products. Each participant receives the necessary equipment to start her activity and benefits from personalised support throughout the project.

In the Azmarin region, in north-western Syria, an organisation* supports 230 particularly vulnerable families. It provides them with the essential materials required to relaunch their agricultural activity, including seeds, tools, fertilisers and drip irrigation systems. This support enables them to cultivate their land once again, improve their food security and generate income, while contributing to the recovery of local markets. The organisation also provides training in agricultural best practices to strengthen their autonomy and contribute to the sustainability of their activity.

In Turkey, in the cities of Hatay and Kahramanmaraş, the organisation INGEV supports around thirty women entrepreneurs in relaunching their small businesses. The project combines comprehensive training in digital tools and business management (e-commerce, digital marketing, financial management, social media), personalised advice for commercial development and start-up grants. INGEV also makes its network available in order to help secure participants’ income.

*These organisations cannot be named for security reasons.