Berlin (d.de) – The earthquakes in February 2023 are among the worst natural disasters to occur in the past one hundred years. More than 57,000 people died, and more than 120,000 were injured. Even six months after the catastrophe, hundreds of thousands of people are still living in emergency accommodation such as tents or container shelters. Food and medical care are still in short supply in many regions. Providing people with clean water remains a major challenge. Especially traumatised children and young adults are battling with the consequences of the earthquake; what is more, many schools remain closed.
Germany has pledged almost 240 million euros in aid for the people in Turkey and Syria this year. The aid covers the costs of the search and rescue teams that were deployed immediately after the disaster, of humanitarian assistance such as the distribution of food, drinking water and medicines, and of longer-term support for those in need. In this context, the German government is focusing on the particular needs of women and girls, in cooperation with UN WOMEN. This is because crises affect women and men differently. Women and girls for example require special protection where there is a lack of privacy and safety in communal areas.
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