Turkey-Syria: relief operations continue for earthquake victims, food security threatened
The current phase of the aid operation is still a humanitarian emergency, UN agency spokesman Ynes Lark told reporters in Geneva on Friday.
These efforts include assessing what kind of help survivors need and how they can be supported.
In Turkey, where more than nine million people have been directly affected by the disaster, the United Nations and partner organizations are supporting government-led efforts.
Within this framework, basic household items were provided to more than 4 million people and food aid was delivered to 3 million people.
Shelters have been set up for more than seven lakh people including tents, relief accommodation and other materials including repair materials.
The UN has provided 4.6 million doses of vaccines, mobile health clinics and other medicines to the Turkish Ministry of Health.
Challenges for the displaced in Syria
More than 8.8 million people have been affected by the earthquake in Syria. Displaced families are in dire straits due to heavy rains in the northwest of the country, and their camps have been damaged by flooding.
It was said that 50 shelters built for the displaced were affected by these incidents.
The United Nations and partner organizations provided emergency shelter, food, water, sanitation and hygiene supplies to those in need.
According to the UN agency, schools in the areas most affected by the earthquake – Aleppo, Latakia and Hama – are still being used as shelters.
impact on food production
in the meantime, Food and Agriculture Organization warned on Friday that due to the earthquake in Turkey, 20% of food production was affected, due to which 11 provinces, important from the point of view of agriculture, were affected in the country.
The area affected by the earthquake in Turkey is very fertile and agriculture there provides 15% of the country’s income.
More than a third of the people in the affected areas depend on agriculture for their livelihood and it is now very difficult for them to survive.
efforts to save the next harvest
The UN agency has provided cash assistance to farmers and efforts are also being made to restore their farms.
However, with the deadline for the next harvest approaching and with the shortage of fertilizers, maintaining food production could prove to be a major challenge.
In view of this, the UN agency insisted on providing fertilizers and seeds to farmers as soon as possible, so that the level of agricultural production can be maintained for next year.
According to the UN agency, this support must be provided immediately to prevent the crisis of food availability and accessibility in the country and to prevent the rise in food prices.
Turkey-Syria: relief operations continue for earthquake victims, food security threatened
