A series of devastating earthquakes hit Türkiye and Syria on 6 February 2023. The death toll in Türkiye has already exceeded 43,000 with more than 105,505 people injured, and the numbers keep climbing. The devastation hit 11 provinces - Kahramanmaraş, Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, Diyarbakır, Adana, Adıyaman, Osmaniye, Hatay, Kilis, Malatya and Elazığ - which cover a vast area in the Southeast with a population of 13.5 million . This region is not only less wealthy than the rest of the country; it also hosts half of the 3.7 million displaced Syrians who have taken refuge in Türkiye over the past ten years.

The scope and scale of the disaster are unprecedented, with damage and losses estimated as high as US$84 billion. Recovery and reconstruction will require huge resources and years to complete.

UNDP is well positioned to provide support to this effort, drawing on its decades-long presence in Türkiye and its wealth of global experience in helping countries rebuild after earthquake disasters.

UNDP has been engaged in development work in Southeast Anatolia since the 1950s, and from the beginning of the Syria crisis, UNDP has been present across the region, providing support to communities hosting large number of refugees. The positive impact of this work has been recognised by partners at the local and national level, and UNDP’s long-established role in offering assistance provides a strong foundation for immediate and near-term contributions to recovery and reconstruction, with full respect for government leadership in all aspects of the earthquake response.