In the early hours of 6 February 2023, a massive earthquake hit several areas in Syria and Turkey, prompting a humanitarian catastrophe as indicated by the initial assessment of the devastation. Situation overviews confirmed the urgent need for a comprehensive rescue and relief operation in all affected Syrian areas, especially those located in the northern and northwestern parts of the country.
However, several factors continue to endanger survivors and complicate rescue efforts. In addition to the large-scale destruction caused by the earthquake and the harsh wintry weather, the complex political and military situation in Syria—whereby several of the hit areas remain controlled by different military entities, has prevented rescue teams from entering these areas and deprived their suffering populations of sufficient life-affirming aid. Desperate in the face of the calamity, civilians have taken matters into their own hands in the province of Idlib, Afrin’s district of Jindiris, and various Aleppo neighborhoods. Depending on the little resources they have, civilians are digging for the hundreds of people struggling for their lives under rubble and collapsed buildings, especially as efforts by several local rescue and emergency organizations continue to be stretched beyond capacity.
Considering the current state of affairs, the international community, regional states, and actors in Syria are obliged to use all land and air routes to immediately deliver humanitarian assistance and deploy rescue crews to afflicted areas. Further delays threaten only to worsen the humanitarian conditions in these areas, which are already struggling with the woes of the ongoing conflict and consequent lack of life-saving resources.
Notably, the Syrian and Turkish governments and the Ankara-backed factions—active in northern Syria’s hit areas that Turkey occupies—bear the primary responsibility for facilitating aid deliveries, ensuring the deliveries are not hampered or blocked, and guaranteeing that aid is fairly distributed. Notably, noncompliance with these obligations is a blatant violation of humanitarian principles and international humanitarian law.
As the full scale of the disaster continues to unfold, the undersigned Syrian organizations express their solidarity with the earthquake victims across Syria, extend their deepest condolences to bereaved families, and wish the injured a fast recovery. Additionally, considering the restrictions imposed on rescue efforts and aid deliveries, the undersigned organizations demand that:
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The U.S. government use its influence to press regional countries and parties in the Syrian conflict to deliver aid without further delays through border crossings in northwestern and eastern Syria, including the al-Yarubiyah/Tal Koçer crossing, which can operate as a delivery conduit to remaining hit areas.
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Parties in the Syrian conflict and various authorities across the country, as well as the Turkish government, cease hostilities and allow relief teams and humanitarian aid to reach all affected areas without exception and not obstruct or prevent aid deliveries, whether coming from abroad or from the rest of the Syrian regions.
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States neighboring Syria, including Turkey, Lebanon, Iraq, and Iraqi Kurdistan, open border crossings for aid deliveries and rescue teams, and ease heavy machinery entry measures.
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The United Nations (UN) deploy first responders and humanitarian aid to affected areas, as well as contribute to search efforts for people still missing under the rubble.
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The Turkish government:
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Cooperate with the local, national, and international authorities to deliver aid to affected areas, expedite rescue efforts to save people trapped under debris, and take all necessary protection measures to ensure the safety of populations in the areas it occupies;
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Grant medical and relief teams access to the affected areas, lead response efforts, and warrant the entry of wounded Syrians to Turkish territories through the borders.
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Organizations and Associations Signing the Statement:
- Act for Afrin
- Adil Center For Human Rights
- Afrin Platform
- Afrin Post Network
- AIN SHAMS
- Ajyal Organization for Development
- Al-Ahd
- Al-Asil Association for Development
- Alghaith For Development
- Al-Hasakah Organization for Relief and Deve
- Al-Khaboor Association
- Allied for peace
- Al-Raja Organization for Relief and Development
- Alriyf Organization
- Alzajel Organization
- Amal for development
- Analysis and Strategic Studies Organization
- Arak of East organization
- Aras Charity
- Areej organization development
- ASHNA for Development
- Ashti Center for Building Peace
- Association Culturelle Kurde de Genève
- Assyrian society for helping and development
- Ayadi Moubsera Organization
- Baladna organization for civil society
- Balsam Center For Health Education
- Better Hope for Tabqa
- Better Tomorrow organization
- Bridges of peace for development
- CLEMENCY Organization
- Community Solidarity Organaization
- M Organization for Development
- DAN for Relief and Development
- DARI
- Demos
- Diaa Al-Amal Association for people with special needs
- Dijla Organization for Development and Environment
- DOZ
- Ebdaa Organization for Development
- Edraak Organization For Development and peace
- Ella Organization For Development and Peacebuilding
- Emaar Mansura
- Environment and Water Association
- Eternity
- Euphrates for Relief and Development
- Euphrates Hope Organization
- Ezdina Organization
- Faidh development organization
- Fajr Organization
- Fazaa for Syria Campaign
- FDO – Inmaa al Fourat
- For Feminist Organization
- For Them Organisation
- Free lawyers Bar
- Freedom Defense Center
- Friends Charity Association
- Future Hands Organization Abdo Habash
- Green Tress
- Green Women’s Association
- Haneen Alfurat
- Happy Land
- Hevy for relief and development
- Hope Makers
- Hope without Limit
- House of Citizenship Organisation
- Human Hope Team
- Human Rights organization Afrin- Syria
- Human rights organization in al-Jazeera
- Jan center for special needs
- Jasmine Association
- Jian Charity Association
- Jomard Organization for Construction and Development
- Khayr charity
- Khutwa association
- Kurdish Swiss Alliance
- Lamsat alkhier for relief and davelopment
- Lasting Peace organization
- LÊLÛN Association for Victims
- Lights For Development and Construction
- Mahabad Organisation for Human rights MOHR
- Malva For Arts and culture
- Manara Organization
- Mary Association for Culture, Arts and Environment
- Mitan Center for the Revival of Civil Society
- Mitra for Researches and Human Rights
- Multka Alnhren Organisation
- Nabd Team
- Nawat
- Nawras development organization
- North and East Syria mine action office
- Nujin Society for Development Community
- Okaaz
- Organization of Zagon
- Oxygen Shabab
- Peace and Civil Society Center
- PEACE SHE LEADERS NETWORK
- PÊL- Civil Waves
- Purity
- Qadar
- Qudwa organisation
- Ras al-Ain/Serê Kaniyê Platform
- Reng for development
- Rights Defense Initiative organization/ RDI
- Roj Kar for relief and development
- RojHilat for Relief and Development
- Rose
- Roya
- Sanad Humanitarian Organization
- Sara organization to combat violence against women
- Sawaed Organization for Development
- SCSD
- Sel Development Organization
- Shams Organization for Rehabilitation and Development
- Share for community develooment
- Shawishka association for women
- Slav organization for civil activities
- Stability Support Centre
- Swaedna Organization for Relief and Development
- Synergy Association for Victims
- Syria Center for Development
- Syria Help Organization
- Syrian Cancer Society
- Syrians for Truth and Justice – STJ
- Taa marbouta
- TARA
- Tel-Abyad Forum for civil society
- The four seasons
- Tomorrow
- Totol foundation for Relief and Development
- Tree of Life
- VdcNsy
- Vision
- Watan movement
- Wheat & Olive Platform
- Women of hope
- Yasna Organization
- Zameen for development and peacebuilding