Locations
UNDP's response
Syria Earthquake
In February 2023, multiple earthquakes, strongest of a 7.8 magnitude hit south-east Türkiye, near the Syrian border. More than 50,000 people died, and the death toll continues to rise as more bodies are retrieved from the rubble. The scope and scale of the disaster are unprecedented.
In Syria, several governorates in north, central, and western parts of Syria were affected, namely Aleppo, Hama, Idleb, Lattakia, and Tartous. Most of these areas host large internally displaced populations (IDPs) and have sustained heavy war damage.
Syrians are experiencing a disaster on top of a catastrophe. The earthquake had a devastating impact and left many people without adequate shelter, food, water and essential services. More than 5,900 deaths and more than 11,200 injuries have been reported across Syria. An estimated 8.8 million people have been affected, and thousands displaced.
UNDP Syria is supporting the emergency humanitarian response through its mandate in early recovery in crisis and post-crisis settings. UNDP operates through a "Whole of Syria" approach, through seven field offices, covering 14 governorates. UNDP's early recovery programme helps communities restore normalcy, people to preserve their livelihoods and dignities, and strengthens delivery systems to build resilience.
UNDP priority interventions support the rehabilitation of public facilities (such as schools, health facilities, training institutes and citizen's service centres) and restoration of basic services, especially those related to water supply, irrigation, solid waste management, large-scale debris removal and safe disposal, electricity and renewable energy solutions to restore dignified living conditions and livelihoods. UNDP will also support the recovery of small businesses, and in turn, enhance access to durable and dignified economic opportunities.
UNDP is well positioned to provide support to this effort, drawing on its decades-long presence in the region and its wealth of global experience in helping countries rebuild after earthquake disasters.
Our people-centred and community-led approach to inclusive early recovery builds on our long experience and trusted engagements in participatory local planning and management.
We facilitate post-earthquake end-to-end recovery processes, from damage, impact and needs assessments to the implementation of catalytic, community-led recovery interventions. And we do so working directly with communities.
We lead the UN's Whole-of-Syria Early Recovery and Livelihoods Sector, with partners operating in all earthquake-affected areas. This places UNDP in a uniquely strategic position to shape the broader post-disaster recovery process, supporting coordination and integration of high-impact, risk-informed and conflict-sensitive early recovery interventions.
Our response programme builds on the UN Humanitarian Response Plan and Earthquake Flash Appeal and is fully aligned with UNDP's Country Programme for Syria 2022-2024.
With an initial estimated budgetary requirement of US$100 million, UNDP's two-year programmatic response priorities are formulated to advance early recovery, building resilience while addressing immediate lifesaving needs.
