Responding to the Tϋrkiye-Syria earthquake
Ireland moved quickly to provide vital humanitarian aid to people affected by the recent earthquake in Tϋrkiye and Syria.
When the devastating earthquake hit Tϋrkiye and Syria in February, Ireland provided vital humanitarian help to survivors.
Within hours of the disaster happening, we announced an immediate €2m in support of relief efforts. That figure soon rose to €10m as the full scale of the disaster became clear.
This support was offered in direct response to the emergency appeal for funding from the Government of Türkiye and aid agencies working in Türkiye and Northwest Syria.
€10 million
Ireland’s financial contribution to relief efforts
25,000
blankets Ireland provided to people in Syria
235 tonnes
Weight of relief supplies sent from Ireland
The funding provided cash, shelter and other vital aid to people in the region. It was allocated to Ireland’s key partners including the United Nations Syria Cross-Border Humanitarian Fund, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and Irish NGOs working on the ground.
Earthquake relief
As part of Ireland’s response, we contributed our largest ever deployment of humanitarian stocks to the region.
Over 235 tonnes of relief supplies – including tents, blankets, lamps, water cans and much more – was airlifted in to support people in both countries.
The humanitarian stocks were distributed by our partners Concern Worldwide, Goal and the International Organisation for Migration.
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin TD, said the stocks would “provide immediate support, meeting vital shelter, water and hygiene needs.”
Minister for International Development, Seán Fleming TD, said the airlift “highlights the value of Ireland having prepositioned emergency supplies so we can respond quickly when disaster occurs.”
He also welcomed:
“The close coordination and strong partnerships between the Irish government, our UN partners, the EU’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO), and Ireland’s NGO partners, that made this airlift possible.”
Ireland also provides pre-positioned funds to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and IFRC Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF). These funds react immediately and at scale when disasters happen. Ireland’s contribution to the CERF for 2023 amounts to €12.5 million while we have provided more than €1 million annually to the DREF for the past four years. The EU has also announced that it will provide significant support to those affected across the region.