Since 2012, Acted has been present in Türkiye to respond to the Syrian crisis with Cross-Border interventions in Syria on the one hand, and interventions with refugee populations and host communities in Türkiye on the other. Acted operated in the province of Mersin with activities dedicated to the protection of refugees, notably with the provision of legal aid, and to improving access to employment thanks, among other things, to language courses and vocational training.
In 2018, more than 500 refugees under temporary protection attended Turkish language courses and vocational training to facilitate their integration into the formal labour market. In addition, Acted organized workshops to strengthen refugees' access to livelihoods by enabling them to better understand their rights and the range of services available to them. Acted also carried out sustainable income-generating activities for refugees by offering entrepreneurial opportunities.
Since 6th of February 2023, Acted has been one of the first international organizations providing immediate relief assistance first in Hatay province, a few days after the earthquake (as early as February 13), and then to Adıyaman and Kahramanmaraş provinces. Acted deployed a multisectoral humanitarian response. A year after the disaster, Acted continues to provide essential support to most vulnerable earthquake affected individuals.
Türkiye has been severely affected by many natural hazards, mostly earthquakes, forest fires, and floods, which resulted in considerable loss of lives, injuries, and loss of property in mostly rapidly urbanised areas.
On February 06, 2023, two earthquakes of magnitudes 7.8 and 7.5 struck Türkiye and Syria, followed by aftershocks throughout the day, resulting in major loss of life and widespread destruction of infrastructure. The death toll reached over 50,000, including over 7,000 Syrian refugees and Syrians under temporary protection; over 107,000 persons were injured; and approximately 13,800 buildings were destroyed, with an additional 300,000 buildings damaged. OCHA reported a total of over 9 million people affected by the earthquake, including approximately 3 million people being displaced due to their homes being destroyed or damaged. This natural disaster compounded the negative impact of a preexisting economic crisis, which had weakened the resilience of households with limited income sources. The economic downturn and earthquake affected all population groups, but their effects well felt more strongly by the most vulnerable, notably including Syrians under temporary protection, which numbered over 3 million in Türkiye in early 2023, approximately half residing in earthquake-affected areas.
Acted in Türkiye
In Türkiye, Acted is working towards the 3ZERO objective through established 3ZERO Village. The establishment of the 3ZERO Village in Hatay aims to propel sustainable development and strengthen community resilience following the 2023 earthquake. Aligned with Acted’s 3ZERO strategy of Zero Poverty, Zero Carbon, and Zero Exclusion, the project prioritizes businesses that adhere to these principles. The 3ZERO Village, sprawling across 2,400 square meters, comprises 19 meticulously crafted wooden structures. Functioning as a dynamic center for community engagement and entrepreneurship, this initiative is dedicated to revitalizing the earthquake-affected region. It offers a total of 19 wooden houses, with 11 allocated for microbusinesses and cooperatives, and 4 designated for community-based organizations.
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