While the death toll continues to climb resulting from an earthquake that hit Syria and Turkey, Oxfam is working to provide aid to 2 million people, 10% of the population affected in the two countries.
The earthquake has impacted over 13 million people in Turkey -- one in every six people. Over 12,000 buildings have been destroyed and many more are threatening to crumble, the British-founded confederation of 21 independent charitable organizations said on its website.
In Hatay, one of the most severely affected areas, Oxfam noted, only three hospitals remain standing.
"People are living in cars, mosques, in tents or huddling around fires in freezing conditions," Stefania Morra, head of humanitarian actions for the Italian branch of Oxfam, said.
"Emergency shelters are overwhelmed and overcrowded. Many people do not want to stay in the area with hundreds of thousands having been evacuated out of the region."
She added that, according to estimates, at least a year will be needed to deal with the emergency but, "in reality, the consequences of this tragedy will be felt for many years to come."
In Turkey, Oxfam "is working closely with dozens of grassroot women-led organizations and cooperatives to reach up to 1.5 million people over the first three years. Our teams have already provided food, shelter, blankets and psychological support to some of most affected areas including Gaziantep, Hatay and Mardin," Oxfam noted on its website.
Dramatic situation in Syria
The situation is no less tragic across the border in Syria, where the earthquake has caused over 3,500 deaths with many more injured.
"The earthquake has shattered an already conflict-torn country. People do not have a roof over their heads and are stuck in freezing temperatures with no idea where they could get their next meal. Our team is working with other humanitarian organisations to get clean drinking water and hygiene packs to survivors," Abdelkader Dabbagh, Aleppo Area Manager for Oxfam in Syria, said in the press release.
"We already started providing safe drinking water to people in Aleppo. We have also supported safety checks to 220 buildings and begun fixing water taps and toilets for over 1000 of the most impacted people. Over the next six months, Oxfam aims to reach more than 300,000 survivors," he added.