Nearly a month has passed following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Syria and Türkiye on 6 February, impacting the governorates of Idlib, Aleppo, Lattakia, and Hama. Another magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck on 20 February resulting in additional damage and sustaining anxiety to affected communities. Prior to the earthquake, 15.3 million people were estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance throughout the country.

Recurring earthquakes also underscore the severe vulnerability and risks in these hard-hit regions. Aid workers and organisations have also been impacted by losses on many levels, which has affected their operational capacities. While casualty figures are increasing every day, more than 5,900 fatalities were reported across Syria as of February 12, most of which (more than 4,500) have been registered in the country’s north-west. Over 12,000 injured persons have also been reported.

Damaged health care facilities resulted in a lack of essential lifesaving obstetric and neonatal care services. Increased referral times to functioning hospitals and reduced capacity of trained providers has impacted access to care for both normal and urgent deliveries and increased the risks of otherwise preventable maternal morbidity and mortality.