Saving lives
We seek to save lives
When disasters and conflicts threaten lives, we are there to provide immediate support wherever possible.
Climate change, prolonged conflict, ineffective governance and growing inequality all drive devastating crises.
We partner with local organisations on the ground to deliver life-saving assistance, like clean water, sanitation supplies, food and shelter for communities that need it most.
As part of long-term recovery our programs work to rebuild livelihoods and prepare for future shocks.
people were supported through our humanitarian work.
Real lives: Meet Özge in Türkiye
“I was calling them, but I couldn’t make contact, so I immediately drove there to try to find them. Before I arrived, I thought there might just be a bit of damage. So, I was shocked by the devastation.”
When two powerful earthquakes devastated large parts of southern Türkiye and northern Syria in February 2023, it was the people in the affected communities who were first to respond.
Among them was Özge Sağaltici, who was at home in Gaziantep where she works for Oxfam KEDV. She and her sister were unharmed, but she was gravely concerned for her parents, who live in the province of Hatay, about a three-hour drive away.
“I was calling them, but I couldn’t make contact, so I immediately drove there to try to find them,” Özge said. “Before I arrived, I thought there might just be a bit of damage. So, I was shocked by the devastation.”
Some cities and villages in Hatay province were virtually flattened by the quakes. Özge discovered that her mother and father were safe in the coastal city of Samandağ in the south of Hatay province, but five other members of her family were buried under collapsed buildings.
Özge decided to stay in Samandağ to support Oxfam KEDV’s emergency response, as well as her family, including her elderly grandmother who has mobility issues. She is now living in a tent with her parents, two brothers and her sister.
“For now, I will stay here because this is where I belong. I grew up here — the people here deserve support and I feel like I’m needed. I’m one of them, so I can understand their feelings and their situation.”
Özge is playing a critical role in the response of Oxfam KEDV, not only continuing her coordination work with women’s cooperatives to help them get the support they need, but also working alongside colleagues to distribute animal feed, which helps restore the livelihoods of the most affected people.
Oxfam supported the emergency humanitarian response and is working towards long-term recovery, responding with shelter, hygiene, protection, food security and livelihood support.
ABOUT THE RESPONSE
Oxfam supported the emergency humanitarian response and long-term recovery from the earthquake in Türkiye and Syria in February 2023. Oxfam responded with assistance for shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene, protection, food security, livelihood support and market recovery support.
OUR LOCAL PARTNERS
Oxfam KEDV.
HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2023–2024
The project served 207,713 people in Türkiye, installing 2,042 sanitation facilities and distributing 2,776 water systems and 99,750 litres of water. It provided 2,381 protection kits, 260 heaters, and conducted 2,739 psychosocial activities for 12,582 people.
The project also supported four women’s cooperatives to run community kitchens, serving 750 hot meals each day. It distributed 3,275 food kits to 13,427 people, along with cash assistance to 440 households. It also assisted 924 farmers and agricultural workers with 700 bags of animal feed and 1,046 bags of seeds and seedlings.