After two devastating earthquakes that occurred in 9 hours on February 6, 2023, more than 50,000 people lost their lives, many more were injured and now have to continue their lives with various obstacles. According to the estimates of the United Nations, over 9.1 million people across 11 provinces were affected with over 3.6 million displaced.

According to February 2024 data of UNFPA, the  United Nations Population Fund; in the most affected provinces (including Adıyaman, Kahramanmaras, Malatya, Hatay, and three districts in Gaziantep and 3 districts of Osmaniye) approximately 760,000 people reside in formal and informal sites. It is estimated that the needs of 1.2 million women and girls of reproductive age, including 64,000 pregnant women continue. 

After approximately 17 months after the earthquakes, the infrastructure of health and protection services remains below pre-disaster capacity. The deterioration of hospital buildings and the passing of healthcare personnel, especially limit access to prenatal and postnatal care services. Inadequate reproductive health materials and services can lead to unintended and risky pregnancies. On the other hand, the challenging living conditions in container cities negatively impacts the health of  lactating women and babies-. Unclean water, sanitation, and hygiene conditions contribute to infections. Due to experienced trauma, increased levels of stress, fear of another earthquake, women and girls suffer more often from irregular menstruation. Access to menstrual hygiene products remains troublesome.

Needs in the field of protection continue. In container settlements, crowded families live together in narrow spaces, and this may lead to security risks. The risk of domestic violence increased; poverty and violence resulting from social norms, post-traumatic stress, substance abuse, etc. are increasing. Child, early and forced marriages are rising, families cannot afford to send girls to school. Power outages and lack of lighting due to infrastructure deterioration cause security concerns, especially for women, girls and youth. 

Women and adolescents lack awareness about available protection services. Young people especially need psychosocial support. 

UNFPA, in coordination of public institutions, has been on the ground since day one, in cooperation with its partners. Through mobile teams and service units, UNFPA continues to provide information and services in the field of health and protection in order to respond to the needs of women, youth, girls along with individuals such as disabled people with special needs.

In the field of health: Our teams, which provide pregnancy follow-up, prenatal, postnatal and newborn care services, make the necessary referrals to maternal health and birth services in coordination with the Ministry of Health. At the same time, they deliver dignity kits containing essential hygiene materials and maternity kits containing basic needs of new mothers and their newborn babies. They also provide support for menstrual hygiene management.

In the field of protection: Our teams, which carry out awareness-raising activities on gender-based violence and child, early and forced marriages, also provide psychosocial support to women and girls who are subjected to violence. Meanwhile, they continue working with groups with special needs such as adolescents, young people and disabled individuals to empower them, and support them with awareness sessions, social group activities and psychologists.

How can you support? UNFPA Turkey's Earthquake Emergency Response

See how UNFPA Türkiye supports women and girls' immediate needs on the ground in our videos:

Find out more in our Situation Reports regarding the earthquake: