Türkiye

Mobilising emergency response in Southern Türkiye following the earthquake

The devastating Türkiye-Syria earthquake struck as 18 million people slept early on Mon 6^th Feb 2023. The earthquake took 46,000 lives, and 1.9 million people in Southern Türkiye were left homeless after significant damage to 192,000 buildings. 

Over a year on, the needs include shelter, medical supplies, water, sanitation, food, cash, and psychosocial support.

In 2024, GOAL Türkiye continued to respond to the long-term impacts of the February 2023 earthquake, delivering protection and emergency assistance in a challenging operational environment.

Through the ECHO-funded LINK V Protection Project, GOAL reached over 23,000 people, primarily Syrian nomadic and semi-nomadic communities and seasonal agricultural workers, with legal support, case management, mental health and psychosocial services (MHPSS), and community-based protection.

Improved psycho-social support for refugees

Closely linked to GOAL's work in Emergency Response, GOALies have addressed gaps in health service delivery for Syrian refugees in southern Turkey.

GOAL also focuses on the protection of vulnerable individuals. In 2023, GOAL teams reached over 50,000 people with protection programmes. This includes the provision of psycho-social support to refugee households to help them build coping strategies in the face of protracted displacement. GOAL teams also help children relieve their stress by identifying and expressing their emotions, as well as creating stories with successful conclusions. This support extends to their caregivers, with GOALies helping families to identify the symptoms of stress and share coping strategies to manage it.

Following the earthquake, the GOAL has been providing individual protection assistance to those at significant risk, especially already vulnerable adults and children. Part of these efforts include the provision of an Emergency Information and Assistance Hotline, which offers particular support to women at risk of gender-based violence. 

Following the earthquake, the GOAL Team has been providing individual protection assistance to those at significant risk, especially already vulnerable adults and children. As part of these efforts, GOAL's local team has emphasised inclusive support strategies, with particular attention to the needs of women and girls at risk of gender-based violence. An Emergency Information and Assistance Hotline was launched to offer tailored support, and since its activation, the hotline has received hundreds of requests for shelter and food.

Financial resilience during a protracted crisis

GOAL Türkiye is looking to increase its programmatic response by focusing on poverty reduction and resilience. This will see GOAL support the creation of market-driven livelihood opportunities for vulnerable households by offering skills development, financial support, and market support. In 2023, GOAL supported over 2,000 individuals with Livelihoods Programmes.

Within this, GOAL is looking to increase access to employment opportunities, entrepreneurship and vocational training (through accredited courses). GOAL's team will also work to facilitate language and life-skills training, as well as provide mentorship, employability support (CV and application assistance) and guided business registration. This will help displaced populations access the opportunities they need to build financial resilience during, and beyond, this protracted humanitarian crisis.