In Focus: Supporting women and girls in Türkiye in the aftermath of the earthquakes

Date: Wednesday, 8 March 2023

On 6 February 2023, twin earthquakes struck Türkiye and Syria, killing thousands of people and injuring many others.

In support of the government-led response, UN Women Türkiye, together with public authorities, civil society organizations, other UN agencies and private sector partners, mounted a swift response targeting the most at-risk women and girls.

In close coordination with partners, UN Women Türkiye’s emergency response is addressing the urgent and longer-term needs of women and girls impacted by the earthquakes. The response covers urgent needs such as the distribution of essential supplies, psycho-social support, and critical information on rights and services. Beyond the immediate assistance, UN Women is preparing programs to support the restoration of women’s livelihoods, such as support to women’s businesses and cooperatives.

UN Women Türkiye is also working closely with the rest of the UN system to ensure that the overall urgent and longer-term response fully considers the needs and priorities of women and girls. In order to achieve this, UN Women advocates for women’s agency and equal participation at every level of the response and works towards mainstreaming their perspective across the earthquake response.

REPORT

Her Aftermath - The impact of the earthquakes in Türkiye: Perspectives of civil society organizations working for the rights of women and girls

This report highlights the needs of civil society organizations (CSOs) and the women and girls that these CSOs serve across the earthquake-affected region in southeastern Türkiye.

INFOGRAPHICS

Women Entrepreneurs in the Earthquake Needs Analysis

This study was conducted in collaboration with UN Women and KAGIDER - after two major earthquakes occurred consecutively on February 06, 2023 in and around Kahramanmaraş.

BRIEF

Earthquakes in Türkiye: Impacts and Priorities for Women and Girls

This brief explains the impact of the earthquake, needs and priorities of women and girls and UN Women's response efforts on the ground.

BRIEF

UN Women Response to the Earthquakes in Türkiye

The publication gives brief information about the UN Women's efforts in respond to the earthquake, its UN inter-agency coordination role regarding gender expertise and its programmatic interventions.

Videos

OP-ED

International Women’s Day 2023

by Asya Varbanova, UN Women Turkiye Country Director

This year’s International Women’s Day is marked under the shadow of the devastating earthquakes that struck South-Eastern Türkiye just over one month ago, killing over 46,000 people and injuring thousands more.

Stories

From hurt to healing: Strengthening civil society’s gender-inclusive approach to earthquake trauma recovery in Türkiye

Following the devastating earthquakes that struck Türkiye on February 6, 2023, UN Women Türkiye has launched the Gender-Responsive Temporary Settlements (GTS) initiative in line with its commitment to foster gender-responsive governance and community leadership to address humanitarian challenges. Photo: UN Women / Sena Şar

Gender-Responsive Temporary Settlements in the Wake of Earthquakes in Türkiye

In the words of Fatma Yumuşak: “I found the strength within myself to start over”

Youth leader Kübra Koşar tells her story to UN Women staff

In the Words of Kübra Koşar: “After the earthquakes, I see that women’s leadership is more crucial than ever in crisis settings”

Women in Adana pack oranges before distribution in the local markets.

Civil society supports rural women to get back on their feet following earthquakes

Image In the words of Şerife Kavak In the words of Şerife Kavak

In the words of Şerife Kavak: “We need to acknowledge the special needs of women and children to heal their traumas”

Women and girls in the earthquake zones are living in tents.

Civil society steps in to heal women’s post-earthquake trauma in Türkiye

Fatma Ürün saved her husband Hasan Ürün from the rubbles following the 6th of February earthquakes in Türkiye. Photo: UN Women/İlkin Eskipehlivan.

In the Words of Fatma Ürün: "The earthquakes turned me into a hero: I saved my husband from the rubbles"

Lama Aljaradi, a Syrian-Turkish national working on civil society engagement and partnerships with UN Women Arab States’ Syria Programme in Gaziantep, Türkiye. Photo: UN Women/Erman Fermanci

Expert’s Take: “It was the longest minute of my life”

Chef Sevgim Parıltı coordinated a network of chefs from around Türkiye to cook and provide meals for those affected by the earthquakes. Photo: UN Women/Sena Şar

In the Words of Sevgim Parıltı: “Your choice can make a difference. Just like me, helping as a chef at the forefront of the crisis response”

In the words of Şennur Demir: “We need social awareness about why women and girls are more affected by disasters”

Female TOG volunteers coordinate operations at a storage unit in Hatay.

Women volunteers play a life-saving role in the earthquake response

After the massive earthquakes in Türkiye, Dilay Duman is working at a storage unit in Hatay. Photo: Courtesy of Dilay Duman

In the words of Dilay Duman: “During disasters, volunteering is compelling, supporting women is priceless”

Photographer Özge Ergin takes photos in isolated neighborhoods of İstanbul. Photo: Özge Ergin.

In the words of Özge Ergin: “Photography has become my medium for raising awareness and narrating stories of earthquake survivors”

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Our priority is to ensure that affected women receive the urgent support they need. Please help UN Women reach more women with the emergency assistance they need. Your contribution can make a difference.

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