Earthquake in Turkey and Syria
On 6 February 2023, violent earthquakes struck Turkey and Syria, killing more than 50,000 people and sparking an extraordinary outpouring of solidarity in Switzerland, where over CHF 32 million was raised for humanitarian aid.
Devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria
On 6 February 2023, southern Turkey and northern Syria were rocked by severe earthquakes. This disaster, the worst in the region in 100 years, claimed over 50,000 lives and destroyed homes and vital infrastructure in an area many times larger than Switzerland. In view of the scale of the devastation and human suffering, Swiss Solidarity launched an appeal for donations on the same day, triggering a remarkable wave of solidarity among the Swiss population. Over 32 million Swiss francs were raised for humanitarian aid provided by Swiss partner organisations on the ground.
Our aid
Just a few hours after the disaster, Swiss Solidarity launched an appeal for donations with the support of the SRG. Thanks to its established cooperation with its 25 Swiss partner organisations, Swiss Solidarity was able to respond within the first few days after the earthquakes and provide vital emergency aid.
The foundation finances humanitarian projects run by ADRA, the Swiss Red Cross, HEKS, Helvetas, Médecins Sans Frontières, Medair, Save the Children Switzerland, Solidar Suisse and the Terre des hommes Foundation, which focus on the following areas:
- Healthcare, including medicines, medical equipment, mobile clinics and psychosocial support to help survivors cope with their experiences
- Distribution of clean drinking water, food and other essential goods
- Provision of emergency shelter, blankets, heaters and fuel
- Repair of sewage infrastructure and distribution of hygiene kits and everyday items such as soap, shampoo, sanitary towels, etc.
- Rubble clearance
How we are helping at the moment
Two years after the devastating earthquakes of February 2023, Swiss Solidarity continues its commitment in Turkey and Syria. In 2024, 27 projects were supported with a total of 11.5 million Swiss francs. The aid enabled the reconstruction of houses, schools and water infrastructure, as well as support for small businesses and hospitals. Despite these efforts, the challenges remain considerable: many families are still living in emergency shelters, reconstruction is progressing slowly and access to education remains limited. In Syria, where the humanitarian crisis continues unabated, aid remains crucial to ensuring decent and sustainable living conditions.