Vodafone’s Humanitarian Response in support of Turkey and Syria

Last updated: 15/02/2023

The earthquakes in Turkey and Syria are an unprecedented humanitarian crisis impacting more than 13 million people in the region across an area of 110,000 square kilometers. Around 32,000 people have lost their lives and more than 80,000 people have been injured by the earthquakes. Reports suggest that nearly 42,000 buildings have collapsed or been damaged and many people are homeless as a result.

It is with deepest regret that we confirm that 27 Vodafone colleagues have lost their lives during this terrible tragedy, and our sincere condolences go to their families and friends. Our thoughts and heartfelt sympathies are with all the people of Turkey and Syria who are affected by the earthquakes, and we wish a speedy recovery to those who are injured.

We have committed to doing everything we can to help those affected by this crisis. The Vodafone Turkey Search & Rescue Team, formed voluntarily by Vodafone employees, has worked tirelessly to assist the emergency response in the disaster zone and support customers, communities and society in this difficult time.

Restoring connectivity

Vodafone has more than 3.7 million customers across 10 cities in the affected area in Turkey connected through more than 3,000 mobile base stations, around half of which were located on buildings. Most of these mobile sites were destroyed or damaged during the earthquakes.

We have focused relentlessly on restoring and keeping our networks operational, ensuring that our customers and their communities can be connected. As soon as news of the first earthquake reached us, Vodafone Turkey immediately mobilized engineering teams to the region and has more than 450 people working around the clock to restore connectivity.

More than 1,000 power generators and over 100 mobile base stations have been deployed to the region to bolster the damaged network. As a result, Vodafone Turkey has restored almost 98% of its network coverage in the affected areas.

Vodafone Foundation Instant Network team are supporting Vodafone Turkey engineers integrating free Instant Wi-Fi and free Instant Charge units to support the main relief coordinating centre in Adiyaman, where hundreds of relief workers and NGOs are based.

Supporting our employees

Vodafone has supported employees in Turkey since the initial earthquakes took place. This has included financial support for our employees and agents living in the affected areas. In some cases, we have repurposed our offices in order to provide shelter and accommodation for people and their families

Keeping our customers connected

In Turkey, Vodafone is providing free calls, data, and texts to people in the impacted areas of the country. Many of our markets are also providing their customers with free calls and texts into Turkey and Syria so that people can keep connected with their families and friends. In addition, some Vodafone markets are offering customers visiting Turkey or Syria free roaming calls, data and texts.

Charitable and fundraising activities

A donation fund has been established across Vodafone and its Foundation that has to date raised more than €3 million to be used for rescue and recovery initiatives in Turkey.

An employee Fundraising Appeal has been established for donations to the UNHCR emergency relief programme. Vodafone employees have already pledged more than €54,000 to date, with an additional €25,000 made available for matched funding by Vodafone Foundation. Vodafone Group has also directly donated €50,000 via Red Crescent.

Many Vodafone markets have also launched their own appeals, encouraging their employees and customers to donate to the relief efforts.