UNICEF calls for additional help for Türkiye's earthquake-hit areas

By Firdevs Bulut Kartal

Toronto, CANADA (AA) - UNICEF Türkiye has asked the international community for additional help after the massive earthquakes that hit 11 Turkish provinces and areas in northern Syria.

To continue helping children and families affected by the earthquake, UNICEF Türkiye is appealing for an additional $138 million.

Long-term help is needed for the people in the area so that they can "recover and begin to rebuild their lives," according to Regina de Dominicis, UNICEF Representative in Türkiye.

Although the humanitarian response was quick, the futures of millions of children and families are uncertain due to lack of resources, said Dominicis.

“More support is vital to ensure children are protected and their needs are met as a central part of the recovery,” Dominicis added.

Earthquakes also affected almost 4 million schoolchildren, and while 1.5 million have resumed education in earthquake areas, many others are in risk of being left behind on their education, she said.

UNICEF is financing the repair of some 1,700 schools and supporting Türkiye's Ministry of Education by building temporary classrooms in prefabricated structures and tents.

UNICEF has reached more than 390,000 people with sanitary kits, blankets and heaters. It also supported Türkiye's efforts for providing for vaccines, medical equipments and supplies to the earthquake survivors.

More than 50,000 people were killed on Feb. 6 when magnitude 7.7 and 7.6 earthquakes struck 11 Turkish provinces – Adana, Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Elazig, Hatay, Gaziantep, Kahramanmaras, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye and Sanliurfa.

More than 13.5 million people in Türkiye have been affected by the devastating quakes as well as many others in northern Syria.