United Kingdom, May 16, 2023 (ATB Digital). – Today marks 100 days since the devastating earthquake that devastated Syria and Turkey on February 6. World Vision recently carried out a disaster impact assessment in 5 districts in southeastern Türkiye, surveying 528 Syrian and Turkish children affected by the earthquake. The troubling results revealed a lasting impact on children’s mental health, with 55% of them saying they regularly felt upset when remembering the event and 56.5% experiencing unwanted images and thoughts.
The assessment also surveyed caregivers, showing that many continue to experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Nearly 50% reported regular nightmares, and 33% felt anger, guilt and shame at the memory of the events of February 6. A mother in Hatay said: “When I felt the earthquake, I thought of throwing my son out the window to save him, and I always blamed myself for that.”

In northwestern Syria, more than 81% of people World Vision surveyed after the earthquake experienced severe fear and distress. Even before the earthquake, an alarming number of young people and children in northwestern Syria were already experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and suicidal ideation. As the region embarks on a long road to recovery, World Vision urges the international community not to forget those affected by this tragic event and continue to provide support.
Eleanor Monbiot, Regional Leader for the Middle East and Eastern Europe at World Vision, emphasized the extensive recovery needed: “Good progress has been made, but it will take years, if not decades, to rebuild and restore the lives of affected communities. earthquake. . With 17 million people affected, more than 50,000 people killed and 4 million buildings destroyed, we must not forget these children and families as they continue to face the lasting impact of this disaster.”
While the Syria earthquake flash call managed to secure more than 99% of the funds needed at the March 2023 Brussels conference, it will only cover a three-month emergency response period. More support is needed for the overall humanitarian response, as so far only 8% of the Syria Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) for 2023 has been funded.
“We must not forget the Syrians and Turks whose whole lives were changed in just 1.5 minutes, and we ask you to pray for them during these difficult times as they continue to fight to get their lives back. To date, World Vision has reached 450,000 people through its earthquake response. We plan to continue this important work to reach more than one million people, 700,000 of whom will be in northwestern Syria,” Monbiot said.