How the UK government responded following the Turkey and Syria earthquakes
An overview of the UK's response to the 6 February 2023 earthquakes in south-east Syria and north-west Turkey.
UK government support after the earthquakes:
- deployed a team of 77 search and rescue experts with specialist equipment and sniffer dogs to Turkey
- sent a world-class UK team of emergency medics to Turkey with surgical capability and equipment, and set up a field hospital to provide more comprehensive medical support
- provided life-saving items to Turkey and Syria, including thousands of tents and blankets to help people keep sheltered and warm in the freezing condition
- funded a number of United Nations (UN) roles to help increase the UN’s capacity in its response work
- is providing funding to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and UN for their emergency appeals, including £3.6 million to UN partners in Turkey. This will help to fund priority support in sectors including Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
- is mobilising the H2H Network to strengthen analysis and accountability for a more effective humanitarian response, promoting safe and appropriate ways to engage with communities affected
- is providing an additional £3.8 million to the White Helmets to aid their major search and rescue operation in north-west Syria
- announced further UK humanitarian support to strengthen relief efforts in both Turkey and Syria