Syria Earthquake DRA Acute JR 2023 While the humanitarian community was already grappling to respond to needs of large numbers of people, chronic displacement, and the impact of war in North West Syria (NWS), a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Turkey and Syria on 6 Feb. As of 9 Feb, more than 3,000 deaths and 5,000 injuries have been reported in NWS, with the death toll expected to rise. Preliminary assessments reported that the sub-districts of Harim and Sarmada in Idlib are among the worst hit (UNOCHA). Search & rescue efforts are being hampered by a lack of equipment, damage to infrastructure and harsh winter conditions, and people have to sleep in cars or outside in the cold.
The humanitarian community has started coordinating on joint rapid assessments. Organizations are currently relying on UNOCHA & HCT updates, which Save the Children (SC) complements with rapid needs assessments (RNA) and observation reports of our partners still operational in NWS. The RNA conducted by our partner Ihsan in 19 sub-districts indicates the acute need for NFIs and food assistance. 4,853 families need temporary accommodation, 5,128 families are in need of essential NFIs, incl. baby-kits, blankets, clothing and winterization materials, and 25,640 individuals need food assistance. According to SC’s partner Shafak, there is very little fuel to run machinery for rescue and running hospitals, and colleagues on the ground are reportedly observing children and families displaying high levels of distress, fear and anxiety, on top of grief and loss experienced already during the conflict.
SC already started its response and is ready to scale up. Together with local partners, SC will provide food, fuel and NFIs, whilst mainstreaming protection and psychosocial support, to displaced families in NWS. This response will complement WFP and UNICEF who have distributed food items but have already depleted their current supplies and are calling for more funding. In response to the most urgent needs highlighted in the RNA by the local partner, the intervention will focus on meeting acute shelter and food needs of 12,700 individuals through distribution of tents for 875 families and 5 collective centres (providing shelter for 300 families). NFI kits, baby kits, fuel and ready to eat food rations will be distributed. The kits will include Plastic Sheets, Sleeping Mats, Blankets, Jackets, Boots (NFI Kits); Diapers, Sanitizing wipes,Baby bottle & towel,Underwear,Blanket and Shampoo (Baby Kits). The ready-to-eat rations will include Beans, Hummus, Mortadella, Toon, Sardines, Halwa and Juice. Distributions will follow Sphere standards, and relevant guidance (in development) from Shelter/NFI and FSL clusters and will depend on market availability. All activities inside Syria will be implemented by local partner. The response will have a strong protection mainstreaming component, complemented through other projects. In line with MHPSS Minimum Service Package(IASC 2022), if possible, frontline workers will be trained in basic psychosocial support skills including Psychological First Aid (PFA) to protect psychosocial wellbeing and to identify and refer those needing more specialized mental health services. These services will be mapped, referral pathways established and information disseminated. Key PSS messages focused on supportive coping mechanisms, dealing with children in distress and stress-management techniques will be disseminated during distributions. Aligning with MHPSS Minimum Service Package and IASC Guidelines on MHPSS in Emergencies(2007), PSS will also be available for all staff, who have experienced the same traumatic experience.  The local partner  will set up a supervised safe space for children during distributions. SC is in contact with WV, CARE and WCH for coordination to avoid overlaps and find synergies with their NFI, Health & WASH activities in Idlib. SC also coordinates with cluster partners who are currently active in the districts. Households (HHs) with multiple children, pregnant and lactating women (PLWs), women-headed HHs, unaccompanied and separated children, People with  Disabilitess or chronic illness, IDPs and elderly