There is a mental health crisis, especially among children, in Northwest Syria, as a result of the earthquakes which first struck on 6 February 2023 (one month ago today) and the conflict which began 12 years ago this month. Mental health experts believe that the devastation of the earthquake, and the series of aftershocks and displacement resulting from it, will further worsen the mental health needs of children. 

World Vision Singapore partnered with Scan Global Logistics, a global full-service logistics provider that has a wide global network to reach remote areas in the world, for a complimentary shipment of 500,000 reusable face masks from Singapore to vulnerable children and families in Cambodia in Jan 2023.

The lessons Isabel Gomes shares about responding to an earthquake are not what you might expect. Haiti, Nepal, Indonesia, Syria, Türkiye. World Vision is no stranger to responding to major earthquakes that kill hundreds or thousands, rip up infrastructure and tear down homes. We grieve each time one occurs. With each one we learn more about the best ways to respond to this devastating force of nature. 

The already stretched child protection system in Northwest Syria is now inundated with extremely high numbers of unaccompanied children, many of whom have lost one or both parents. UNICEF estimates that 2.5 million Syrian children have been impacted by the earthquake.

After every high-profile emergency people naturally want to help.  Kind-hearted people set up donation drives for clothes, shoes, food and baby diapers that flood our Facebook pages.  But here are five reasons why it’s better to give cash, not commodities.

World Vision warns it could take a generation for survivors to recover. The earthquake in Syria and Türkiye has created needs greater than any other natural disaster they have responded to in over a decade.

The death toll continues to rise hour by hour and has now sadly climbed above 21,000 in both Syria and Türkiye. As the international effort gathers pace in Türkiye, Syria is significantly underserved and remains a serious concern. World Vision has worked rapidly to assess the needs to already-displaced children and communities in the wake of the earthquake and are scaling up our emergency response.

As we approach the end of the first week of emergency relief operations following the devastating earthquake in south-eastern Türkiye and northern Syria, please pray with us for all who have been affected.

World Vision is concerned about growing health needs in Syria where health facilities are overwhelmed by the wounded and operating at very limited capacity. Very little humanitarian aid has reached Northwest Syria in the past 4 days, and medical supplies are running out. Doctors have warned that children are at risk of developing hypothermia and being exposed to waterborne diseases.