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Program Manager Lena Schellhammer gains firsthand insights into the current situation in Syria at a field hospital in Afrin. Photo credit: IDA/Malteser International.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 30, 2024

Cologne. A year after the devastating earthquake in the border region between Syria and Türkiye, more than three million people remain displaced, living in makeshift shelters or tents. In northwestern Syria, the absence of state structures to coordinate reconstruction efforts has left a void, hindering the rebuilding process. The situation is further compounded by dwindling international funding, which has reduced UN aid, exacerbating food shortages and deepening the humanitarian crisis.

Lena Schellhammer, Malteser International’s Program Manager for Syria and Türkiye recently visited the earthquake-affected areas and describes the situation.

“In the Syrian city of Afrin, it’s almost as if the earthquake happened yesterday. What I saw shocked me: damaged houses still stand uninhabitable on the streets, next to the tents and containers for those who have lost their homes. People sought refuge in this region believing they could escape the war, but the earthquake stripped them of even the little they had left.”

Malteser International’s partner organizations, including the Al-Dana maternity clinic run by local organization SAMS, are witnessing a surge in parents seeking assistance for their malnourished children. “This deeply concerns us,” Schellhammer emphasizes, “and we are now expanding our support to include initiatives that help communities cultivate fruits and vegetables, enabling them to achieve food self-sufficiency and generate income.”

One year after the earthquake, millions of people in Türkiye and Syria are still living in tents or containers. Photo: Malteser International

Malteser International has been actively supporting the people of northwest Syria since shortly after the outbreak of war in 2011, particularly in the realm of medical care. Following the earthquake on February 6, 2023, the organization significantly expanded its humanitarian assistance. Partnering with local organizations, Malteser International is providing support to eight hospitals, basic health centers, and mobile medical teams. Additionally, they are ensuring access to clean drinking water and providing psychosocial support to those affected by the earthquake.

In the Turkish earthquake region, Malteser International, through local partner organizations, has distributed blankets, tents, and beds. To date, individuals injured in the earthquake continue to receive physiotherapy care. Moreover, starting in February, small entrepreneurs impacted by the earthquake will receive support on their way back to self-employment.

 

Attention editors:

Lena Schellhammer, Malteser International’s Program Manager for Syria and Türkiye, is available for interviews and sound bites.

Contact: +49 (0)221 9822- 7181, katharina.kiecol@malteser-international.org

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Malteser International Americas is an affiliate of Malteser International and is the worldwide relief and development organization of the Sovereign Order of Malta. The organization provides aid to people in need in around 140 projects in 36 countries, regardless of their religion, gender, origin, or political convictions. Christian values and humanitarian principles form the basis of its work. Further information: www.orderofmaltarelief.org