The funding, which covers a three-month period, will allow aid agencies to quickly ramp up operations to support government-led response efforts in areas such as food security, shelter, education, water and shelter.
U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged the international community to step up and fully fund the response effort.
“Turkiye hosts the most refugees in the world and has shown enormous generosity to its Syrian neighbors for years,” he says called.
“Now it’s time for the world to support the people of Türkiye – just as they have shown solidarity with other people seeking help.”
shock and devastation
The UN Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief, Martin Griffiths, also urged countries to support the call.
“The people of Türkiye have experienced untold sorrow,” said Mr Griffiths, who visited the country last week.
“I met families who shared their stories of shock and devastation. We must stand by them in their darkest hour and making sure they get the support they need,” he added.
A catastrophe that only happens once in a generation
The United Nations and its partners rushed to support Türkiye and neighboring Syria after the devastating February 6 earthquakes.
According to the latest government figures, more than nine million people in Türkiye alone have been directly affected by the once-in-a-generation disaster that has killed 35,000 people.
The earthquakes struck at the height of winter, leaving hundreds of thousands of people – including young children and the elderly – in freezing temperatures without access to shelter, food, water, heating and medical care.
Around 47,000 buildings were destroyed or damaged, including schools, hospitals and other essential facilities.
Thousands of people have sought refuge in emergency shelters across the country. Many families have been separated and hundreds of children are now orphans or cannot be reunited with their parents.
Two boys walk through the earthquake damaged streets of Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye.
Refugees are also affected
As the UN chief noted, Türkiye is also home to the world’s largest number of refugees.
According to the UN refugee agency, around 3.6 million Syrians have found a safe haven there along with almost 320,000 people of other nationalities. UNHCR.
More than 1.74 million refugees live in the 11 provinces affected by the earthquake.
Extensive support
The United Nations is coordinating the operations of thousands of search and rescue workers in five provinces — Adiyaman, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş and Malatya — and humanitarian organizations have begun response in support of government-led relief efforts in the hardest-hit areas.
Together with partners, the UN is delivering hot meals, food, tents, warm winter clothing, blankets, mattresses and kitchen sets to the needy and is sending medical supplies and personnel to the affected areas.
In addition, psychosocial support is offered and child-friendly rooms as well as safe rooms for women are set up.
