Two and a half years have passed since the major earthquakes drastically affected millions of lives across 11 provinces in Türkiye, yet the needs in women’s and maternal health, as well as protection, remain critical. Under the coordination of relevant public institutions, with the financial support of the Government of Japan, and in partnership with the Association for Social Development and Aid Mobilization (SGDD-ASAM), United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA continues to support women and girls in need in Adıyaman by providing assistance in health and protection.

Adıyaman, Türkiye - “I packed my bag to take to work in the morning and left it by the door before going to bed. I didn’t know I was actually preparing for the earthquake. When I ran out with my baby, that bag was the only thing I could grab,” says Emine (37), recalling the morning of the earthquake. Emine and her family are among the thousands who continue to live in container cities in Adıyaman.

More than 53 thousand people lost their lives and over 9 million were directly affected by the devastating earthquakes in Türkiye. More than two and a half years later, thousands of people still live in container cities due to the lasting effects of the disaster. Access to some essential services remains a critical need, especially for women and girls. Since the very first days after the disaster, UNFPA in Türkiye, with the financial support of the Government of Japan and in partnership with SGDD-ASAM, has been working in coordination with public institutions through static and mobile service units to empower women and girls and improve their access to health and protection services.

“Many people in the contact list of my phone are no longer with us, it still feels like a nightmare,” says Emine, a mother of three. After losing her home and loved ones in the earthquake, Emine and her family have been trying to rebuild their lives in the container city.

Emine first met the UNFPA-supported service unit during her pregnancy. She attended awareness raising sessions on prenatal and postnatal care, breastfeeding, newborn care, and menstrual hygiene. She also joined handicraft workshops and social activities and received a maternity kit containing essential health supplies for herself and her baby.

One of the challenges Emine and her family face in temporary accommodation center is the violence they witness and lack of awareness. “Because the containers are so close to each other, we often hear domestic violence in neighboring containers. It affects me and my children profoundly,” she says, drawing attention to the risks children encounter; “Early marriages have increased in the region. My neighbor got married very young; she’s now 18 and pregnant with her second child. Families need to understand these risks. At the center, we learn about the dangers of early marriage, the meaning of violence, and what we can do in response. We also share this information with our neighbors and people we know.”

Nur is a 21-year-old woman. She was preparing for university when the earthquake struck and destroyed her home. She recalls: “Because of the war, we had to leave our home in Syria, settled here, and started from scratch. After the earthquake, we lost everything again. I had to drop out of university and start working. Now, we are trying to rebuild our lives.”

Nur learned about the service unit through a neighbor. She attended sessions on women’s health and menstrual hygiene, and learned how to protect her health. “After joining these sessions, I realized that many things I thought were right, were actually wrong,” she says. Feeling empowered by the service unit’s support, Nur adds, “When conditions improve, I want to go back to university and complete my education.”

With the financial support of the Government of Japan and in partnership with SGDD-ASAM, UNFPA in Türkiye continues to provide essential health and protection support, under the coordination of public institutions, to women and girls affected by the earthquake in Adıyaman. Through its mobile unit, UNFPA reaches women and girls in the most remote areas, ensuring that no one is left behind, while its static unit continues to support women and girls dwelling in the container settlement.