On February 6, a powerful earthquake hit Turkey and parts of northwestern Syria, causing serious damage, thousands of displaced people and several deaths. 

On February 6, at 4:17 A.M, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit at a depth of eleven miles. After the first earthquake hit, there were over 87,000 injured and at least 47,000 buildings destroyed and damaged. 

After the first earthquake, thousands of aftershocks hit the region, causing even more damage to the surrounding areas. Since the first earthquake, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and The World Health Organization have gone over to support the millions of displaced people in both countries. In total, The World Health Organization said that 26 million people need assistance across both countries. 

On Thursday, February 9, a United Nations convoy, six trucks carrying supplies including food, water, shelter and cleaning essentials crossed into northwest Syria through Turkey. This was the first shipment of its kind since the earthquake struck. Since then, 120 U.N. trucks have crossed into northwest Syria with relief supplies.

On February 20, 2023, at 8:04 p.m. local time, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck Hatay province in southern Turkey, which caused even further damage to Turkey’s infrastructure

During this time, temperatures in Turkey have been increasingly colder. Due to limited access to heat and electricity, millions of people are without proper heating. Due to less sanitary products such as medical drugs, and soaps, medical care has been harder to get and many viruses and diseases are spreading quickly. 

In total the earthquake in Turkey and southern Syria has been a major disaster. People are freezing from the frigid temperatures, homes and people have been destroyed, and diseases and viruses are spreading. Thankfully. the  United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and The World Health Organization have gone to support the millions of people displaced by the earthquake.