This page focuses on the humanitarian response of Syrian diaspora and local organizations to the earthquake in Northwest Syria. Only publicly available information has been used and no sensitive data will be published. Diaspora organizations also find several resources to support their planning and programming of activities. Contact details to a range of Syrian diaspora networks worldwide can be accessed in our member section below. 

What happened on February 6?

The recent earthquake that struck the border region between Syria and Turkey on February 6th has worsened an already dire situation in the area. With the conflict in Syria now in its 12th year, the majority of the Syrian population is living below the international poverty line.

According to UNOCHA, more than 8.8 million people are affected in Northwest Syria alone, with over 103,000 internally displaced and more than 10,600 buildings fully or partially damaged. The humanitarian response in Turkey is led by the Turkish government, but the situation in Syria is more complicated.

Local groups are first-responders but come last in funding

In Northwest Syria, local Syrian and diaspora organizations are at the forefront of the humanitarian response, providing medical care and relief in hard-to-reach areas and across borders in Syrian provinces. The Syrian NGO Alliance (SNA), a coalition of 22 local Syrian NGOs and diaspora organizations, currently delivers most of the aid in Northwest Syria.

However, local NGOs have been neglected in the distribution of institutional funding, despite their significant presence in the affected areas. According to UK-based research group Development Initiatives, only 1% of direct funding for the Syrian refugee response in Turkey went to local and national NGOs in 2019 and 2020, with 86% of funding provided directly to international actors, nearly half being channeled to the UN.

SNA press conference video on the anniversary of the earthquake that struck Syria and Turkey (Feb 7, 2024)