Türkiye earthquakes - 1 year on

On 6 February 2023, 2 earthquakes struck south-east Türkiye and north-west Syria, changing forever the lives of millions of people.

The initial 7.7 magnitude earthquake was the most powerful recorded in Türkiye in 84 years. Its impact was devastating across a huge area: 11 provinces in Türkiye were affected, more than 50 000 people lost their lives (including over 7000 refugees, many of whom were Syrian), more than 100 000 were injured, and approximately 1 million people lost their homes.

The earthquakes caused massive destruction and suffering, creating new and urgent health needs in the communities affected, including both host and refugee populations. The disaster disrupted access to health services, including maternal and newborn health care, vaccination, noncommunicable disease management, mental health support, disability and rehabilitation services, and health information.

Health needs of earthquake survivors 1 year on

One year on, the health needs of earthquake survivors remain high on the agenda.

The earthquakes injured over 100 000 people. As many as 70% (70 000 men, women and children) of those injured are expected to have long-term physical rehabilitation needs, with many survivors now living with disabilities. Prior to the emergency, Türkiye already experienced a significant burden of noncommunicable diseases, accounting for around 89% of all deaths in 2021. Therefore, support to restoring essential health services, particularly for people with chronic diseases, has been one of the priorities of the government-led response, supported by WHO.

The Government of Türkiye has provided accommodation to millions of people displaced by the earthquakes. This includes mothers who face limited access to water and sanitation services and spaces to breastfeed. In Hatay, one of the most severely damaged areas, about 14 000 babies are born in a typical month, and according to United Nations data, an estimated 2.4 million women of reproductive age were impacted by the earthquakes. Providing primary health care services, particularly those related to reproductive and women's health, to earthquake-affected communities is critical.

After any natural disaster, the risk of spread of infectious diseases is high. Crowded, temporary accommodation creates conditions in which outbreaks can spread. As the earthquake-affected regions once again enter the coldest months of the year, the control of respiratory viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 and seasonal influenza are of particular importance.

WHO's contribution to the Government of Türkiye's health response

Within the first few weeks of the earthquake response, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and WHO Regional Director for Europe Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge visited the affected areas of Türkiye, where they met with frontline workers and government representatives to discuss further collaboration with WHO and other health partners.

WHO has provided continuous support to the Government of Türkiye's extensive health response over the past year as they worked to address the health needs of 9.1 million people in earthquake-affected provinces, including 2 million Syrians under temporary protection. During the immediate response, WHO cooperated closely with local and national health authorities and partners to provide essential, life-saving services to those impacted by the earthquakes.

During the long recovery phase, WHO's response has included:

• Immediate deployment of emergency medical teams (EMTs) and activation of the Emergency Medical Team Coordination Cell by the Ministry of Health and WHO.



• Assessing health needs and expanding access to quality health services, including a rapid health needs assessment and support for maternal and child health, physical rehabilitation, and mental health and psychosocial support services.



• Comprehensive training for 663 Ministry of Health staff on areas including water sanitation and hygiene, emergency maternity care and obstetrics, mental health and vaccination roll-out.



• Assistance to the Ministry of Health to develop risk communication messages for affected communities.



• Delivering critical supplies including immediate trauma supplies, post-trauma rehabilitative care equipment and sanitation supplies.



• Working in partnership - WHO jointly with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), led the coordination of the health and nutrition sector, as well as the active management of the mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) network with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) from the early days of the earthquakes.

Providing immediate care through EMTs

Responding to a request for international assistance issued by the Government of Türkiye, 38 national and international EMTs from more than 25 countries, the largest deployment of international EMTs in the WHO European Region in its 75-year history, worked side by side with Turkish Ministry of Health staff.

They provided critical emergency care, surgeries and access to primary care services while strengthening national capacities for preparedness and response. Over a 5-month period, they carried out close to 99 000 medical consultations, close to a third of which were related to trauma services. EMT staff also attended over 54 live births.

In June 2023, with support from the Government of Türkiye and the Government of Kuwait, an after-action review workshop brought together 82 experts and EMT professionals from 20 countries. Participants shared experiences, lessons and future improvements regarding the EMT response to the earthquakes.

Advice tailored to need:

delivering crucial public health advice with and for affected communities

When the earthquakes struck, the Turkish Ministry of Health and WHO collaborated to rapidly develop important public health information. Recognizing the importance of timely advice during crises, WHO/Europe used social listening to gather insights and identify health information needs. This approach informed interventions on around 30 health-related issues, such as cold and hypothermia, safe water use, food hygiene, vaccination (rabies and tetanus) and mental health.

 

Results from social listening guided WHO and the Ministry of Health in developing, testing and communicating health messages. Training sessions equipped health and social care staff, including a training of trainers for 72 health workers, so that they can go on to provide other health-care workers with communication skills, promoting effective engagement in emergencies.

One year after the earthquakes, WHO is continuing risk communication, community engagement and infodemic management initiatives in the affected provinces, updating and disseminating vital information through various channels. Partnerships with civil society organizations remain important, particularly in Hatay province.

Providing critical supplies to earthquake survivors

More than US$ 1.1 million worth of supplies facilitated the Ministry of Health's ability to reach an estimated 655 000 people with immediate trauma care and post-trauma rehabilitative care for injured patients.

Both in the immediate and longer term, disease prevention and control is critical in post-earthquake affected areas and WHO efforts have focused on the control of infectious diseases and prevention of water-borne infections. Medical supplies, laboratory reagents to support rapid testing and identification of potential disease-causing organisms, solar-powered chlorination equipment for use by rural health authorities, and antiparasitic medicines, including shampoo and soap, were distributed to affected communities.

Water and sanitation training for primary health care providers brought together 46 staff from 11 earthquake-affected provinces. Public health care training for Ministry of Health personnel also reached a total of 152 participants from different affected provinces.

Access to quality health services

(mental health and psychosocial support)

Research indicates that 1 in 5 people affected by the earthquakes will experience mental health problems in the coming years.

WHO, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Family and Social Services and local partners is strengthening MHPSS services, not only in the earthquake-affected region but also across the country.

WHO procured and delivered 33 containers to the earthquake-affected region, from which populations in need can access MHPSS services. Additionally, staff care sessions reached 715 participants who are affected by the earthquakes, and 2941 psychosocial support staff attended online training.

Providing access to physical rehabilitation

In the aftermath of the earthquakes as many as 70 000 people could have long-term rehabilitation needs. WHO is working to strengthen physiotherapy services in 31 primary health care centres across 15 provinces to meet rehabilitation needs and build long-term and sustainable service capacity. With the support of the Government of Kuwait, 4 containers are now providing rehabilitation services at the community level in Hatay.

WHO's efforts are never solely limited to immediate relief. WHO was in Türkiye before the disaster hit, and our steadfast commitment continues, from immediate relief to long-term recovery and ongoing support. Contributions from donors have been instrumental in making a tangible difference to the lives of the affected communities. In response to the devastating earthquakes, with the financial assistance of the United States Agency for International Development Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, the governments of Kuwait and Norway, and the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations, WHO has been able to provide much-needed support to the most vulnerable populations.