Return to self-employment
Together with our partner organization Orange, we support people who want to rebuild their businesses after the earthquake.
Read more
Support our projects in Türkiye!
Türkiye
Since the start of the civil war in Syria in 2011, Türkiye has taken in more refugees than almost any other country in the world. Even before the earthquakes that shook Türkiye and Syria on February 6, 2023, this large number was placing a strain on the country's social infrastructure. After the devastating natural disaster, humanitarian needs in southeastern Türkiye became even more urgent. Following the fall of the Assad regime, a significant number of Syrian families have returned to their home country. Nevertheless, according to the UNHCR, 2.87 million refugees were still officially registered with the Turkish government as of September 2025.
Many of the refugees remain unintegrated into the labor market and speak little or no Turkish. In addition, numerous refugees suffer physically and mentally from the consequences of the earthquake and the violence they have experienced. They find inadequate support in the health facilities of the host communities, as there are significant gaps in the health system, especially in rural areas.
Since 2012, Malteser International has been working with our partner organizations on the ground, supporting refugees and host communities, and has been providing increased vital emergency aid since the earthquakes of 2023. To date, our efforts have focused on supporting some of the millions of people affected by the consequences of civil war and earthquakes.
The people in Türkiye are in urgent need of your support: Help now!
This is how we have been providing aid after the earthquake:
Since the severe earthquake in the Türkiye/Syria border region on February 6, 2023, our humanitarian aid activities have also focused on providing emergency relief in the affected regions. We work closely with local partners, focusing on providing immediate relief and addressing the disaster’s multifaceted challenges. Our assistance included the following activities (by sector):
Health Initiatives:
- Provided 13,657 basic medical consultations to address common health needs.
- Conducted 609 sessions of psychological support to help individuals cope with mental stress.
- Facilitated psychological support through 41 group sessions, benefiting 410 participants.
- Delivered physiotherapy services to 83 patients, supporting their physical rehabilitation.
- Supplied 67 patients with mobility aids to improve their independence and quality of life.
- Referred 116 patients to specialized healthcare services for advanced medical treatment.
Distribution of Non-Food-Items:
- Supplied 101 tents to provide shelter for families.
- Distributed 1,900 beds to create appropriate sleeping conditions.
- Provided 2,200 generators to ensure access to electricity.
- Distributed 3,300 sleeping bags and blankets to improve warmth and comfort during sleep.
- Additionally, 300 households each received an extra pair of blankets to help them stay warm.
- Supported 12,000 individuals by distributing 1,400 food kits and 1,400 hygiene kits, addressing basic nutritional and sanitary needs.
Our long-term aid in Türkiye:
Since 2012, we have been providing humanitarian aid to refugees from Syria in cooperation with our local partners in the southern Turkish border town of Gaziantep, as well as cross-border in Syria itself. The focus of our humanitarian work in Türkiye is on health care, especially rehabilitation measures in the form of physiotherapy treatments, psychosocial support and mobile clinics that ensure individuals in remote areas to receive essential medical care. In Kilis and Gaziantep, we are supporting two physiotherapy centers run by our partner Independent Doctors Association (IDA). Our goal is to enhance the rehabilitation services to help earthquake survivors recover faster.
Stories and news from our work in Türkiye:
Strengthening partnerships - our partner "Orange"
Localization of humanitarian aid strengthens partnerships to efficiently support communities based on their needs and contexts.
Read more
When aid workers become affected
During the earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria in February 2023, the employees of aid organizations, who were usually victims themselves, were quick to help others who had lost their homes and loved ones.
Read more
Faces of our work: Betoul Abras
After graduating in Psychology from the University of Aleppo during the Syrian Civil War, Betoul became a refugee in Türkiye, where she now works with Malteser International, creating and training on psychosocial support projects.
Read more
Health care on wheels: mobile clinics
Months after the earthquake in Türkiye, we and our partner IDA continue to support affected communities through mobile clinics and a physiotherapy center, providing essential health services.
Read more
Of Hardship and Hope – Finding Sanctuary in Art
Displacement and conflict disrupted her sense of security, but safe spaces for self-expression, like drawing, helped the 10-year-old Shaheda process trauma and express her hopes for the future.
Read moreBecome a sponsoring partner and provide longlasting aid for people in need
As a sponsoring partner, your regular donation gives real, life-changing help to people in need in our project regions. Your commitment helps us plan ahead and bring about long-lasting impact.
- We put your generous donation to use, bringing help to those who need it most.
- Our monthly newsletter will keep you regularly updated on our work.
- You can easily amend or stop your payment at any time.
Completed projects:
Project information:
Program offices: Kilis, Gaziantep
Project region: Gaziantep, Kilis
Partner: Independent Doctors Association (IDA), Orange
Photo credit: Gonzalo Bell/Malteser International
