“Our thoughts are with those affected across areas, and with our staff and the people we serve, hit by today’s earthquake. The quake happened at the worst time of night at the worst time of the year.
“This is a disaster that will worsen the suffering of Syrians already struggling with a severe humanitarian crisis. Millions have already been forced to flee by war in the wider region and now many more will be displaced by disaster. In the midst of a winter storm and an unprecedented cost-of-living crisis, it is vital that Syrians are not left to face the aftermath on their own.
“NRC is assessing the situation in order to provide direct support to those most affected across Syria. A massive scale up is needed and our organisation will be part of it. We appeal to the international community for the immediate mobilisation of financial resources to support collective relief efforts in Syria and southern Turkiye. With every minute of delay, there will be lives lost.”
Notes to editors:
- Large swathes of residential areas have been destroyed or damaged after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southern Turkiye. The destructive extent of the shock hit a number of cities in Syria, including Aleppo, Idlib, Homs, Hamah and Lattakia, including internally displaced people across Syria’s north.
- The death toll, so far in the hundreds with thousands injured, continues to rise with a large number of people still missing.
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
- Ahmed Bayram, Regional Media and Communications Adviser, Middle East Regional Office: ahmed.bayram@nrc.no; +962 7 9016 0147
- NRC global media hotline: media@nrc.no; +47 905 62329