HIGHLIGHTS
• The Protection sector carried out a rapid assessment in the affected areas and highlighted a number of concerns that must be urgently addressed.
• UNDAC teams are leaving Syria in the coming days after spending three weeks in Aleppo, Lattakia and Homs to support the earthquake response.
• On 20 February at 20:04, 6.3 magnitude earthquake shocked the areas already reeling from the 6 February earthquake resulting in further damage, panic and yet more displacement.
• As of 25 February, Syria Earthquake Flash Appeal was 38 per cent funded.
SITUATION OVERVIEW
The situation in the affected areas remains dire with hundreds of thousands still displaced, either in collective shelters or in host communities. Partners continue to scale up the response, but lack of funding continues to hamper the efforts. At least 50,000 families have been displaced in Aleppo, Homs, Hama and Lattakia, with Aleppo worst affected. Extensive infrastructure damage has been recorded in the areas affected by the earthquake.
On Monday 20 February at 20:04, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake occurred with an epicentre in Hatay, 13km from Antakya, 52km from west Idleb and 70km of Lattakia, which was felt in many governorates in Syria. Additional human and material damages were reported in several governorates in Syria.
A rapid Protection assessment noted elevated levels of distress among the affected population. Many exhibit signs of posttraumatic stress disorder, including anxiety, panic attacks, sleep disorders, depression, and symptoms of post-earthquake dizziness syndrome. Children suffer from distress, violence, symptoms of urinary incontinence and panic attacks.
Overcrowding is the most common issue in the collective shelters where many families are living in the same space without any privacy and with concerns for their safety, including gender-based violence (GBV) risks. Distribution of humanitarian assistance is ongoing in most locations, but the assistance is not commensurate with the level of needs. Gaps have been observed in all sectors, but especially in mental health and psychosocial support (particularly for children), food, nutrition, health, education, shelter and specialized protection services. In addition, as many schools are still being used as collective shelters, alternative learning spaces should be quickly sought to enable children to resume their education.
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs