In response to the devastating earthquake, READ has been providing life-saving assistance to over 3,500 affected people in some of the worst hit areas of Turkiye, including Gaziantep, Sanliurfa and parts of Turkish-controlled Syria.

Many schools that are currently closed are housing survivors and the long-term impact on education remains to be seen. Furthermore, UNICEF estimates that more than seven million children across Turkiye and Syria have been affected by the earthquakes and many, many children will have lost parents or caregivers.

READ is now looking to shift its focus to early recovery and rehabilitation through the provision of temporary learning centres and safe spaces including psychosocial support for children. Schools not only provide a space for children to learn but are also a place of protection and safety. Schools can provide children with lifesaving food, water, hygiene and support. Parents and children affected by a crisis or natural disaster consistently cite education as a top priority, and the role of education in mitigating future disasters is enshrined in global commitments and frameworks.

We are also going to be supporting and caring for the many orphans that this disaster has created. These children are often the most needy in any society and without their primary carers they become vulnerable to neglect, abuse and abduction. READ Foundation will be working with our partners on the ground to identify and care for these orphans in order to offer safety, security and opportunities for their future.