On 6 February 2023, a series of massive earthquakes struck south-eastern Türkiye near the border with the Syrian Arab Republic. These and hundreds of aftershocks caused significant destruction on each side of the border, claiming thousands of lives across both countries and damaging or destroying essential infrastructure, including health facilities. 

These have been some of the strongest earthquakes to hit the region in a century, prompting a global humanitarian response – including from WHO and other United Nations partners – at the request of the Turkish Government.