Seventeen days have passed following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Syria and Türkiye on 6 February, impacting the governorates of Idlib, Aleppo, Lattakia, and Hama. Prior to the earthquake, 15.3 million people were estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance throughout the country.
On 20 February, a magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck the Turkey-Syria border region, resulting in additional destruction and causing further stress and anxiety to communities that have already suffered significant loss and trauma. These recurring earthquakes also underscore the severe vulnerability and risks in these hard-hit regions.
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 11,000 injured persons have also been reported.