A major earthquake devastated southern Turkey and northern Syria early on Feb. 6, killing over 2,000 people and injuring many thousands more. Those figures are expected to rise as the search for survivors continues.

The magnitude 7.8 quake, one of the strongest to hit the region in the past 100 years, was felt in Cyprus, Israel and Lebanon.

As aftershocks continue — along with a second earthquake with a 7.5 magnitude — Empowering Everyday Women is teaming with global partner agencies to rush emergency assistance to children and families in Syria.

At this time, the government of Turkey has not requested international humanitarian assistance. 

The current focus of Empowering Everyday Women’s emergency response in Syria is on water, sanitation and hygiene, child protection services, and nutrition.

As our teams are assessing the impact on main water stations and water storage facilities to determine the extent of damages and interruption in services, we are providing emergency water access for displaced families.

This latest disaster will only make living conditions more difficult for millions of women and children who already depend on humanitarian assistance and have fled Syria’s drawn-out civil war.

Candace Agee, an Empowering Everyday Women representative, said, “The numbers of deaths keep increasing, including among children. Many are injured, panicked, displaced, traumatized, and in desperate need of prayers and tangible support.”