Syria and Türkiye earthquake relief action

A US$1 million OPEC Fund emergency grant has been channeled through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Following the deadly earthquakes in Syria and Türkiye, the OPEC Fund for International Development has provided a US$1 million grant to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to support immediate and medium-term humanitarian relief efforts.

The funds have bolstered the operations of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) and the Turkish Red Crescent (Türk Kizilay) and helped address pressing needs such as shelter, livelihood, health and water and sanitation as well as the implementation of the overall relief operation.

In consideration of the complexities of international aid provision in Syria, the OPEC Fund has channeled US$700,000 of the total grant to support the work of the Syrian Red Crescent to help 300,000 people, primarily separated families, female-headed households, children, people with disabilities, and the elderly. The Syrian Arab Red Crescent has provided in-kind essential needs such as food, household items and shelter.

In Türkiye, a US$300,000 grant has been used by the local Red Crescent to support 300,000 severely affected people in 10 cities. The funds have covered immediate basic needs such as family tents, blankets, sleeping bags, kitchen sets and water and sanitation requirements such as hygiene kits.

OPEC Fund Director-General Abdulhamid Alkhalifa said: “We are standing with the millions of people who have suffered unimaginable losses in Syria and Türkiye. Our solidarity response, together with the international community, has helped to provide immediate assistance to meet urgent needs and support livelihoods.”

Two devastating earthquakes with a magnitude of more than 7.5 hit southeast Türkiye and northern Syria on February 6, causing massive destruction with over 45,000 people losing their lives, according to official accounts. With more than one million people homeless in Türkiye alone, the UN says “the full scale of the disaster is still unfolding”.

The IFRC issued a CHF 100 million emergency appeal for Syria and another CHF 120 million for Türkiye. The OPEC Fund has extended nearly US$30 million in grants to the IFRC in over 85 humanitarian and emergency response operations since the institutions began cooperating in 1997.