Two Years After the Catastrophic Earthquakes

Today, we mark two years after the catastrophic earthquakes struck Türkiye and Syria and forever changed all of us. We extend our heartfelt condolences to everyone, including many members of our staff, who lost loved ones and cherished places.

Disasters of this magnitude take years to recover from, leaving some wounds that will stay with us forever. We want to take a moment to share some of what we have been doing to rebuild and heal over the past two years. Your solidarity, empathy, and generosity have meant so much to us. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.

Providing Shelter, Cash, and Essentials: Emergency Relief

In Syria, we responded immediately by distributing tents, fuel, heaters, kitchen kits, bedding sets, emergency food and cash to over 25,000 people.

In Terminin, Idlib, Ahmed, a father of six, shared his experience, “We were outside in the cold and rain. SARD came and gave us this tent and everything—a heater, fuel, blankets, mattresses, and more.”

In Adıyaman, a mountainous region in Turkiye that suffered the highest loss of life and structural damage among all affected provinces, we reached remote villages with 451 hygiene kits, cash assistance for 2162 families, and 660 shelter kits over the past two years.

Clearing the Path to Recovery: Rubble Removal and Cash-for-Work

Entire communities lay buried under debris, blocking roads, cutting off access to essential services, and hindering rebuilding efforts. Led by the Syria Civil Defence, we removed over 50,000 cubic meters of rubble. Through our cash-for-work program, we employed local community members to help us clear debris, providing much-needed income.

Mohammed, a cash-for-work participant in Jaindaris, shared: “It felt as if they rescued us from beneath the rubble, and we were able to play an active role.”

Restoring Stability: Shelter Rehabilitation and Livelihood Programs

For families like Ali’s in Sijo, Syria, the earthquake shattered their sense of security. “On the morning of the earthquake, I was shocked to see my room near the street almost destroyed, with walls collapsed on the ground,” Ali recalled. Through SARD’s shelter rehabilitation program in 2023 alone, we provided financial support for rehabilitation and upgrades to almost 500 homes. Ali expressed the significance of the change, “Security is the most significant change we felt after completing the housework. My wife and children now feel safe.”

In Adıyaman, Türkiye, we repaired over 262 houses, while our livelihood program provided critical financial support and business training to help rehabilitate 225 small businesses and farms.

Rebuilding Hope: Community Rehabilitation

In Syria, we carried out community rehabilitation projects, including 23 school and 20 market rehabilitation and over 20 water and sewage line repairs, ensuring access to essential infrastructure and paving a sustainable path forward. At Imam Al-Khatib Secondary School in Mare’ (pictured before the rehabilitation below), assistant principal Muhammad Al-Nasser described the impact:

“For years, we struggled with deteriorating conditions, but the earthquake made things worse. SARD rehabilitated our school, rebuilding walls, repairing leaks, and creating a safe learning environment. Now, education has returned in its best and most complete form.”

For students like Abdullah, the transformation was profound: “Before the repairs, the walls had cracks, and during the winter, water would leak into our classrooms. But today, we sit in our classrooms safely—no cracks, no water leaks, just a strong and secure place to learn.”

Protecting the Most Vulnerable: Child Protection and Psychosocial Care

In Adıyaman, Türkiye, we provide over 360 psychosocial activities to create safe spaces for families like Zeynep’s who were struggling to cope with anxiety and trauma. “My eight-year-old daughter refuses to sleep indoors, mirroring our own anxieties,” Zeynep shared. “Personally, I battle mental distress.”

The earthquake left many children vulnerable, including those who became unaccompanied or separated from their families. We responded by in Syria by providing case management, psychosocial support, and safe spaces. In 2023 alone, we reached over 2,500 children, including 46 unaccompanied and seperated children.

Nur, a young girl who lost her parents in the earthquake, shared her experience: “The earthquake devoured what was left of the remnants of peace. It took my mom and dad, who gave their lives for us to live safely. They died instantly when the house fell in on us all. No one survived except me and my only brother. We became orphans.”

Through our Child Friendly Center, Nur, who now lives with their aunt, participated in interactive learning and entertainment activities, helping her rebuild a sense of normalcy.

“When I went to the center, I found myself again. It gave me back my hope in life and my love for my hobbies that I used to practice, including drawing. I find comfort here that I lost with my house when it collapsed.”

Your solidarity, empathy, and generosity have meant so much to us. Thank you.

For a detailed breakdown of the number of people we served, impact figures, as well as a list of our generous partners and donors, please check out our 2023 annual report here.