Within the scope of the anniversary of the February 6 earthquakes, the UN Delegation, led by United Nations Turkey Resident Coordinator Babatunde Ahonsi, together with United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA Türkiye Representative Mariam A. Khan, visited Hatay, the most affected province by the earthquakes. The UN Delegations examined the humanitarian aid efforts of different UN agencies towards earthquake survivors on-site and listened to their needs.

HATAY, TURKEY - As part of activities on the anniversary of the February 6 earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş, the United Nations delegation, led by UN Türkiye Resident Coordinator Dr. Babatunde Ahonsi, together with UNFPA Turkiye Representative Mariam A. Khan paid a visit to the project sites of; the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the UN Development Program (UNDP) in addition to United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA's mobile service units in Hatay. 

After the devastating earthquakes in February, UNFPA has been on the ground since day one. Thanks to the strong partnership with the Government of Türkiye and the commitment of several donors and partners, UNFPA has been providing lifesaving sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and response services to the most vulnerable earthquake survivors especially women, girls and young people through 11 static and 11 mobile service units currently. 

The first stop of the UN Türkiye delegation was one of UNFPA supported mobile service units where UNFPA works with financial support from the US Government and in collaboration with Doctors of the World (DDD)/Médecins du Monde (MdM) Türkiye, operating one static and two mobile service units to provide SRH and GBV prevention and response services and and provide reproductive health supplies, dignity and maternity kits to thousands of women and girls from both host communities and refugees. 

Ahonsi and the UN team observed the earthquake response activities, talked to beneficiaries and listened to their needs. They also got information from the service providers on how to improve provided services. 

The UN Türkiye Delegation also visited the IOM warehouse, which was also used as a post-earthquake shelter, the UNHCR-supported community center, the UNICEF-supported “Birlikte (Together) Hub” in Haraparası Container site and the ”Accessible Community Center" by UNDP in Hatay. The delegation, led by UN Türkiye Resident Coordinator Babatunde Ahonsi, also met with Hatay Deputy Governor Doğukan Mızrak; the latest situation in the region, needs and how to advance the aid efforts carried out in cooperation were discussed.

Within the scope of the visit, UNFPA Türkiye Representative Mariam A. Khan and the UNFPA Delegation also visited the Youth Center in Samandağ, where young people affected by the earthquake were supported by UNFPA, with the financial support of the US Government and New Zeland in partnership with the Youth Approaches to Health Association. Participating in an awareness event for young people on sexual and reproductive health and menstrual hygiene management, the UNFPA team listened to the needs and demands of young people and received information about the services provided.

UNFPA Türkiye Representative Mariam A. Khan stated that UNFPA would continue working across the earthquake affected region to advance rights and choices for the most vulnerable, especially women, girls and young people.