Search operations for survivors of the February 9, 2023 earthquake in Jinderes district in Afrin countryside. Source: The Syrian Civil Defense (The White Helmets)
In the early hours of 6 February 2023, a massive earthquake hit several areas in Syria and Turkey, prompting a humanitarian catastrophe as indicated by the initial assessment of the devastation. Situation overviews confirmed the urgent need for a comprehensive rescue and relief operation in all affected Syrian areas, especially those located in the northern and northwestern parts of the country.
However, several factors continue to endanger survivors and complicate rescue efforts. In addition to the large-scale destruction caused by the earthquake and the harsh wintry weather, the complex political and military situation in Syria—whereby several of the hit areas remain controlled by different military entities, has prevented rescue teams from entering these areas and deprived their suffering populations of sufficient life-affirming aid. Desperate in the face of the calamity, civilians have taken matters into their own hands in the province of Idlib, Afrin’s district of Jindiris, and various Aleppo neighborhoods. Depending on the little resources they have, civilians are digging for the hundreds of people struggling for their lives under rubble and collapsed buildings, especially as efforts by several local rescue and emergency organizations continue to be stretched beyond capacity.
Considering the current state of affairs, the international community, regional states, and actors in Syria are obliged to use all land and air routes to immediately deliver humanitarian assistance and deploy rescue crews to afflicted areas. Further delays threaten only to worsen the humanitarian conditions in these areas, which are already struggling with the woes of the ongoing conflict and consequent lack of life-saving resources.
Notably, the Syrian and Turkish governments and the Ankara-backed factions—active in northern Syria’s hit areas that Turkey occupies—bear the primary responsibility for facilitating aid deliveries, ensuring the deliveries are not hampered or blocked, and guaranteeing that aid is fairly distributed. Notably, noncompliance with these obligations is a blatant violation of humanitarian principles and international humanitarian law.
As the full scale of the disaster continues to unfold, the undersigned Syrian organizations express their solidarity with the earthquake victims across Syria, extend their deepest condolences to bereaved families, and wish the injured a fast recovery. Additionally, considering the restrictions imposed on rescue efforts and aid deliveries, the undersigned organizations demand that:
The U.S. government use its influence to press regional countries and parties in the Syrian conflict to deliver aid without further delays through border crossings in northwestern and eastern Syria, including the al-Yarubiyah/Tal Koçer crossing, which can operate as a delivery conduit to remaining hit areas.
Parties in the Syrian conflict and various authorities across the country, as well as the Turkish government, cease hostilities and allow relief teams and humanitarian aid to reach all affected areas without exception and not obstruct or prevent aid deliveries, whether coming from abroad or from the rest of the Syrian regions.
States neighboring Syria, including Turkey, Lebanon, Iraq, and Iraqi Kurdistan, open border crossings for aid deliveries and rescue teams, and ease heavy machinery entry measures.
The United Nations (UN) deploy first responders and humanitarian aid to affected areas, as well as contribute to search efforts for people still missing under the rubble.
The Turkish government:
Cooperate with the local, national, and international authorities to deliver aid to affected areas, expedite rescue efforts to save people trapped under debris, and take all necessary protection measures to ensure the safety of populations in the areas it occupies;
Grant medical and relief teams access to the affected areas, lead response efforts, and warrant the entry of wounded Syrians to Turkish territories through the borders.
Organizations and Associations Signing the Statement:
1. Act for Afrin
2. Adil Center For Human Rights
3. Afrin Platform
4. Afrin Post Network
5. AIN SHAMS
6. Ajyal Organization for Development
7. Al-Ahd
8. Al-Asil Association for Development
9. Alghaith For Development
10. Al-Hasakah Organization for Relief and Deve
11. Al-Khaboor Association
12. Allied for peace
13. Al-Raja Organization for Relief and Development
14. Alriyf Organization
15. Alzajel Organization
16. Amal for development
17. Analysis and Strategic Studies Organization
18. Arak of East organization
19. Aras Charity
20. Areej organization development
21. ASHNA for Development
22. Ashti Center for Building Peace
23. Association Culturelle Kurde de Genève
24. Assyrian society for helping and development
25. Ayadi Moubsera Organization
26. Baladna organization for civil society
27. Balsam Center For Health Education
28. Better Hope for Tabqa
29. Better Tomorrow organization
30. Bridges of peace for development
31. CLEMENCY Organization
32. Community Solidarity Organaization
33. M Organization for Development
34. DAN for Relief and Development
35. DARI
36. Demos
37. Diaa Al-Amal Association for people with special needs
38. Dijla Organization for Development and Environment
39. DOZ
40. Ebdaa Organization for Development
41. Edraak Organization For Development and peace
42. Ella Organization For Development and Peacebuilding
43. Emaar Mansura
44. Environment and Water Association
45. Eternity
46. Euphrates for Relief and Development
47. Euphrates Hope Organization
48. Ezdina Organization
49. Faidh development organization
50. Fajr Organization
51. Fazaa for Syria Campaign
52. FDO – Inmaa al Fourat
53. For Feminist Organization
54. For Them Organisation
55. Free lawyers Bar
56. Freedom Defense Center
57. Friends Charity Association
58. Future Hands Organization Abdo Habash
59. Green Tress
60. Green Women’s Association
61. Haneen Alfurat
62. Happy Land
63. Hevy for relief and development
64. Hope Makers
65. Hope without Limit
66. House of Citizenship Organisation
67. Human Hope Team
68. Human Rights organization Afrin- Syria
69. Human rights organization in al-Jazeera
70. Jan center for special needs
71. Jasmine Association
72. Jian Charity Association
73. Jomard Organization for Construction and Development
74. Khayr charity
75. Khutwa association
76. Kurdish Swiss Alliance
77. Lamsat alkhier for relief and davelopment
78. Lasting Peace organization
79. LÊLÛN Association for Victims
80. Lights For Development and Construction
81. Mahabad Organisation for Human rights MOHR
82. Malva For Arts and culture
83. Manara Organization
84. Mary Association for Culture, Arts and Environment
85. Mitan Center for the Revival of Civil Society
86. Mitra for Researches and Human Rights
87. Multka Alnhren Organisation
88. Nabd Team
89. Nawat
90. Nawras development organization
91. North and East Syria mine action office
92. Nujin Society for Development Community
93. Okaaz
94. Organization of Zagon
95. Oxygen Shabab
96. Peace and Civil Society Center
97. PEACE SHE LEADERS NETWORK
98. PÊL- Civil Waves
99. Purity
100. Qadar
101. Qudwa organisation
102. Ras al-Ain/Serê Kaniyê Platform
103. Reng for development
104. Rights Defense Initiative organization/ RDI
105. Roj Kar for relief and development
106. RojHilat for Relief and Development
107. Rose
108. Roya
109. Sanad Humanitarian Organization
110. Sara organization to combat violence against women
111. Sawaed Organization for Development
112. SCSD
113. Sel Development Organization
114. Shams Organization for Rehabilitation and Development
115. Share for community develooment
116. Shawishka association for women
117. Slav organization for civil activities
118. Stability Support Centre
119. Swaedna Organization for Relief and Development
120. Synergy Association for Victims
121. Syria Center for Development
122. Syria Help Organization
123. Syrian Cancer Society
124. Syrians for Truth and Justice – STJ
125. Taa marbouta
126. TARA
127. Tel-Abyad Forum for civil society
128. The four seasons
129. Tomorrow
130. Totol foundation for Relief and Development
131. Tree of Life
132. VdcNsy
133. Vision
134. Watan movement
135. Wheat & Olive Platform
136. Women of hope
137. Yasna Organization
138. Zameen for development and peacebuilding