Syria’s humanitarian crisis, Turkey recovery, two years after the earthquake
Press Release, 06 February 2025- Two years have passed since the devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck northwest Syria and southern Türkiye, leaving much destruction and lives impacted in its wake. In Syria alone, nearly 6,000 lives were lost, and almost 13,000 people were injured, and critical infrastructure—already weakened by over a decade of conflict—was further impacted. The humanitarian crisis in the country, already one of the most severe in the world, worsened in the aftermath. This seismic event was considered the most significant in Türkiye since 1939 and one of the most severe disasters in the region's recent history; it claimed over 50,000 lives in Türkiye.
In Türkiye, the most impacted provinces included Adıyaman, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Kilis, Osmaniye, Gaziantep, Malatya, Şanlıurfa, Diyarbakır, Elazığ, and Adana, located in Southern and Southeastern Türkiye. In Syria, the earthquake caused severe damage in the governorates of Aleppo, Latakia, Tartous, Hama, and Idleb, with major infrastructure damage in both cities and rural areas within these regions.
Ongoing challenges and conflict in the region, particularly in Syria further worsened the situation, displacing over 1 million people and adding to the 7.2 million already displaced. Many resorted to sheltering in overcrowded public spaces, straining limited resources. Across Syria, 16.7 million people now require urgent humanitarian aid, the highest recorded in the crisis.
“The needs are great, and the situation requires ongoing attention,” said Emmanuel Isch, World Vision’s Syria Response Director. “Children and families are the most impacted. Access to healthcare, education, clean water, and protection services is at an all-time low. The international community cannot look away—support is needed now more than ever.”
Syria’s situation remains one of the world’s largest displacement crises, with 6.2 million Syrian refugees seeking safety in neighbouring countries. In light of recent events in Syria and the collapse of the previous regime, tens of thousands of Syrians started to return to their country, coming from areas affected by the earthquake. However, ongoing recovery support for those remaining is still needed.
World Vision, which has been providing humanitarian assistance in Syria since 2011, and was among the first responders after the earthquake in 2023, reaching almost 500,000 people. We delivered life-saving aid such as emergency shelter, food, clean water, and medical support. However, with continued displacement and funding shortages, the need for sustained and immediate humanitarian action remains.
Despite these challenges, World Vision remains committed to its mission, advocating for stronger humanitarian responses and resilience-building efforts. The organization urges international donors and humanitarian partners to scale up support for Syria, ensuring access to essential services, protection for vulnerable populations, and livelihood opportunities for refugees and displaced communities.
"As we mark two years since this devastating earthquake, we must remember that the crisis in Syria is far from over. The Syrian people have shown incredible resilience, but they cannot endure this alone. We must act now to prevent further suffering and loss of life." Isch added.
World Vision calls for urgent, coordinated action to address immediate humanitarian needs while strengthening long-term recovery and resilience efforts.
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For more information, please contact Khuzaima Jaber at khuzaima_jaber@wvi.org or phone +962 79649-7569
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian and development organisation dedicated to working with children, families and their communities to reach their full potential by tackling the root causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision and their partners are working in communities to improve families’ economic prospects, strength violence prevention and child protection services, and improve education systems.
World Vision remains steadfast in its commitment to the Syrian people, advocating for their immediate needs and the promise of a more hopeful, stable future. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. For more information, please visit Syria Crisis Response | Emergency | World Vision International