OCHA Business Brief: Türkiye/Syria Earthquake
On 6 February 2023, two devastating earthquakes, measuring 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude on the Richter Scale, struck Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye. The initial earthquake was followed by over 3,100 aftershocks. Impacts have been felt across ten provinces in Türkiye as well as ten governorates in Syria, with the most severe impacts in Hatay, Kahramanmaras, and Gaziantep in Türkiye as well as Aleppo and Idleb in Syria.
The earthquakes and aftershocks have caused catastrophic devastation, with at least 9.1 million people directly impacted in Türkiye and an additional 8.8 million in Syria. As of 16 February, more than 41,000 people have been reported killed and tens of thousands more injured. These numbers likely under-represent the true scale of needs, which will become clearer as further assessments are concluded.
The earthquakes hit communities at the peak of winter, leaving hundreds of thousands of people —including small children and the elderly — without access to shelter, food, water, heaters and medical care in freezing cold temperatures.
This Business Brief provides guidance on how businesses can contribute to the humanitarian efforts underway.