Solidarity at scale: Local responder perspectives and learning from the first week of the earthquake response in Syria and Türkiye

This report provides a brief snapshot of issues and challenges facing humanitarian responders during the first 10 days of the earthquake response. It is based on interviews with local responders in Syria and Türkiye, as well as a review of the emerging reports on the response and lessons learnt papers from previous earthquake responses.

The devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake and its aftershocks that hit southern Türkiye and north-west Syria on 6 February 2023 compounded the already tenuous humanitarian and economic situations in the region. Despite the scale of destruction and needs, local and national actors responded quickly on the ground. The governments and humanitarian aid communities in Türkiye and Syria mobilised search and rescue response efforts. In Türkiye this was led by Türk Kizilay (Turkish Red Crescent) and AFAD (Disaster And Emergency Management Presidency within the Turkish Ministry of Interior), and in government-controlled parts of Syria by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and in north-west Syria, largely by The Syria Civil Defense (The White Helmets) and other local groups. “Solidarity chains” formed quickly as citizens from less-affected areas or abroad mobilised resources to keep the emergency response afloat. In all cases, first responders were part of those affected – and even in communities where displacement is common, the sheer scale of destruction, acute level of need, and complexity of operations was daunting.

Learning from previous earthquakes can inform this response even though the circumstances and scale of this disaster are unique. As initial search and rescue operations wind down and the next phases of the response scale up, local responders recommend a dual focus on mental health and protection as well as people’s basic material needs that is well-coordinated and effectively communicated. A multifaceted response that addresses rubble management as well as secondary health and housing effects should consider a mixed modality approach to ensure first responders and affected people have access to what they need to recover – whether cash, in-kind, or other support.

Given the huge cost of reconstruction, humanitarian aid will be a small part of the overall  financing and aid effort. Coordinating domestic efforts with development financing and identifying where international humanitarian actors can add the most value, will be crucial in the next phases.