USAR Teams and EMT teams deploying to Syria are invited to provide updates on the Virtual OSOCC (via comments below) and/or contact the INSARAG Secretariat (insarag@un.org)

Please note that as 20th February, it was communicated that Search and Rescue teams are not longer required in Lattakia, Tartous, Homs, Hama and Aleppo.

A United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination Team (UNDAC) is in Syria supporting the coordination of international teams. Contact: Jake Morland: morland@un.org

SITUATION OVERVIEW:

The 6th February earthquake in Turkiye has heavily impacted Syria where 4.1 million people, most of them women and children, were already relying on humanitarian assistance.

224 buildings were completely destroyed and at least 325 partially damaged and in 17 subdistricts, according to initial information.

Preliminary assessments indicate that the sub-districts of Harim, Atmeh, Sarmada, Atareb, and Kafr Takharim are among the worst hit areas.

Partners have reported that their offices and warehouses have been damaged and hospitals are overwhelmed. There are urgent needs for tents and non-food items, in particular blankets, heating fuel, stoves and plastic sheets.

Several partners have launched assessments and results are expected in the coming days.

International Organization for Migration and the Office for High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) partners have a total stock of some 2,000 tents and approximately 1,700 non-food Item kits pre-positioned inside Syria.

UNHCR reported that 1,000 additional tents are available in its warehouse in Gaziantep.

The World Health Organization has released trauma kits from warehouses to at least 16 hospitals in Syria.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates in the Syrian Arab Republic has launched an appeal to the Member States of the United Nations, the UN Secretariat, its agencies, funds, international organizations, and humanitarian partners to extend a hand to support the efforts of the Syrian government in facing the repercussions of the humanitarian disaster, especially with regard to search and rescue operations, and providing food and health assistance and shelter supplies to those affected by this natural disaster throughout the territories of the Syrian Arab Republic, in accordance with the standards of humanitarian work established by General Assembly Resolution No. 46/182, and in coordination and cooperation with the Syrian government and its diplomatic missions abroad."