Return to self-employment
Together with our partner organization Orange, we support people who want to rebuild their businesses after the earthquake.
Read moreTürkiye is home to the largest number of refugees in the world, hosting close to 4 million people. Over 3.6 million refugees come from Syria alone (as of: February 2024) and have fled the ongoing war in their home country. These large numbers were already placing an increasing burden on the country's social infrastructure before, but after the devastating earthquake that hit Türkiye and Syria on February 6, 2023, the humanitarian need in southeastern Türkiye became even more urgent.
Less than two percent of the refugees are accommodated in Türkiye's seven refugee camps. The vast majority live on the streets or in desolate and unhygienic housing conditions. Many are not integrated into the labor market and lack Turkish language skills. With no immediate prospects of returning home, numerous refugees suffer from the effects of past violence and chronic post-traumatic stress disorders. Additionally, there are significant gaps in the host community's health system, particularly in rural areas, that affect the hosting communities as well.
Millions of people - including women and children in particular - are dependent on humanitarian aid. Malteser International has been on the ground with our partner organizations since 2012, providing vital emergency aid
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):
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, we support a physiotherapy center operated by our partner Independent Doctors Association (IDA). Our goal is to enhance the rehabilitation services to help earthquake survivors recover faster.
Together with our partner organization Orange, we support people who want to rebuild their businesses after the earthquake.
Read moreLocalization of humanitarian aid strengthens partnerships to efficiently support communities based on their needs and contexts.
Read moreDuring 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 moreAfter 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 moreMonths 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 moreDisplacement 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 moreAs 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.
Program offices: Kilis, Gaziantep
Project region: Gaziantep, Kilis
Partner: Independent Doctors Association (IDA), Orange
Photo credit: Gonzalo Bell/Malteser International