STARTTS response to implications of the earthquake in Turkiye and Syria

STARTTS expresses its deep sorrow at the terrible impact of the earthquake that occurred almost two weeks ago in South East Turkiye and North West Syria. It is now evident that as many as 50,000 people in the region have died and many thousands of others have been injured.

The earthquake has hit a region that was already struggling due to the ongoing conflict in Syria and the refugee crisis it has produced. This disaster has not only resulted in the deaths of thousands but also left hundreds of thousands more homeless and exposed to a harsh winter. In particular refugees, whose living circumstances were already precarious, have been hit very hard. As the search for survivors now shifts to a recovery effort, our thoughts are with the people of Turkiye and Syria during this difficult time.

STARTTS encourages humanitarian entrants and others impacted by the events of the last two weeks to make contact with us as the tragedy of the earthquake compounds the effects of the conflict in the region. STARTTS will work closely with community organisations to ensure our services are accessible to those in need.

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