The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany have strengthened their partnership to advance the rights, health and well-being of women and girls in the one of most earthquake-affected provinces of Türkiye and also to contribute to the country’s demographic resilience. The new project, supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), was announced by H.E. Sibylle Katharina Sorg, German Ambassador to Türkiye, and Mariam A. Khan, UNFPA Representative in Türkiye at a joint ceremony at the Germany Embassy on 8 January 2026.
ANKARA, TÜRKİYE - The devastating earthquakes in February 2023 that affected 11 provinces in Türkiye, directly impacting 9.1 million people, including more than 1.7 million people from the refugee and migrant population. As of December 2025, despite the tremendous national efforts which have supported many, approximately 380,000 people are still residing in temporary accommodation centers. This prolonged situation is weakening the resilience of the affected individuals, limiting their access to health and protection services, and increasing their risk of vulnerability, especially among the women and girls.
The Government of the Federal Republic of Germany and UNFPA kicked off a new project to strengthen access to essential services for women and girls, including young people and persons with disabilities, in the earthquake-affected province of Adıyaman. The project was announced by Ms. Mariam A. Khan, UNFPA Representative in Türkiye, and H.E. Ms. Sibylle Katharina Sorg, German Ambassador to Türkiye, during a ceremony held at the Embassy of Germany in Ankara on 8 January 2026. The initiative is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
Over two years, the project aims to support the rights, safety and dignity of women and girls affected by the devastating 2023 earthquakes through UNFPA’s Women and Girls Safe Space (WGSS) in Adıyaman. The project will focus on improving access to quality and inclusive gender-based violence and reproductive health and services, while also strengthening the capacity of municipalities to deliver these services in an equitable and sustainable manner.
Through this partnership, UNFPA will work closely with local authorities in particular Adıyaman Municipality and service providers to ensure that women and girls, including adolescents, refugees and persons with disabilities, can access life-saving information and services. The project will also contribute to building more resilient local systems in line with Türkiye’s ongoing recovery and reconstruction efforts.
This new cooperation falls within UNFPA’s 8th Country Programme (2026–2030) in Türkiye, which aims to advance demographic resilience and ensure that every woman and young person can exercise their rights and access the services they need, including in humanitarian settings.
Germany is a long-standing partner of UNFPA globally and a strong supporter of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action. In 2024, Germany ranked among UNFPA’s top donors and continues to play a key role as a member of the UNFPA Executive Board.
