CRT Turkey: Summary of Our Response

On February 6, 2023 earthquakes, with magnitudes 7.7 and 7.6, struck south-east Türkiye, impacting 15.6 million people, including 5.6 million children. 

Operation Orphan's Crisis Response Team sprung into action, and was one of the first teams on the ground and the first international team working directly with the Ministry of Family and Social Services to identify, make safe, and keep safe orphans throughout the rural towns and villages. 

Team Alpha, made up of a Team Leader, a search and rescue specialist, first responders, an A&E doctor, and a mental health specialist, started operating in mid-February, scouting the region and operating locations, discovering many orphans alongside a local Turkish social worker.  Plans were quickly put in place for ongoing support and a follow-on mission.  In March, Team Bravo, with a Team Leader, security expert, paramedics and first responders, deployed and continued the mission across the region, bringing vital supplies and aid for those caring for orphans.  In all, over 80 children orphaned in the disaster are now being supported in various ways by the Operation Orphan Team.  

Our in-country team of Yasemin Culha Korkmaz, a local teacher, and Fehmi Ecer, a social worker, are still diligently working to address the medical, psychological, and educational needs of the children in the Operation Orphan "family".  Visits by a child psychologist to affected children has already taken place, paediatrician appointments are underway, and we are working to provide backpacks full of educational supplies to the children.  Although education has resumed in all earthquake-affected provinces, attendance levels in Hatay are below 50 per cent.  This is due to a combination of teachers leaving the area, schools being destroyed, and children and families being displaced.  We are committed to helping these children access education once again and be supported well by friends and family in their homes, and hope that no children will have to go to institutional orphanages. 

 Keep an eye on our blogs and social media pages for updates coming soon on our team’s next steps in continuing to support these children, and how you can help.