Turkey-Syria 2025: Children Survive
Two years after the devastating earthquakes that shattered Turkey and Syria on February 6, 2023, millions of children continue to rebuild their lives from the ashes of destruction. While the world’s attention has moved on, the resilience of these young survivors remains a beacon of hope in communities still grappling with the aftermath of one of the deadliest earthquakes in modern history.https://www.mindviewmagazine.com/sudan-floods-2025-children-rebuilding-amid-the-waters/
Children finding moments of play amid earthquake destruction in Syria and Turkey
The Continuing Struggle for Recovery
The earthquake disaster killed over 56,000 people and displaced millions, including approximately 6.2 million children who saw their lives turned upside down in mere seconds. Today, one in four children who lost their homes in Turkey remain in temporary shelters, with about 150,000 children still living in prefabricated container camps. These containers, measuring just two by eight meters, often house entire families who share toilets and kitchens with neighbors.
In Turkey alone, about 680,000 homes were destroyed, yet as of December 2024, less than a quarter of the needed homes have been rebuilt. The government has delivered approximately 201,000 homes out of a committed 650,000, leaving hundreds of thousands still waiting for permanent housing.
Families living in temporary container housing while their communities rebuild
Education Disrupted, Dreams Deferred
The earthquake’s impact on education has been particularly devastating. In Turkey, nearly 4 million children – equivalent to about one in six students – had their education disrupted. A staggering 1,842 educational facilities were completely destroyed and 637 were damaged. In Syria, the situation was equally dire, with 54% of schools and 37% of teaching and learning spaces affected by the earthquake, totaling 822 school buildings.
Despite these challenges, educational recovery efforts have been remarkable. Alper, a 9-year-old from Hatay, now attends a Save the Children temporary learning space housed in a container. Initially apprehensive about the container classrooms, he soon found comfort in the new environment. “School means having fun, learning and playing for me. Having activities with my friends and studying with teachers,” Alper explains.
Children attending classes in temporary container schools after the earthquake
The Mental Health Crisis
The psychological impact on children has been profound and lasting. Children in nearly 30% of earthquake-affected households in Turkey were missing out on education seven months after the disaster. Many children exhibit signs of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Some, like 11-year-old Jameel from Syria, struggle with concentration due to persistent fears of another earthquake. “I used to be an A student, but my grades dropped. It’s because we were scared – we were not in a good mental space to study,” Jameel shares.
Mental health support has become a critical component of recovery efforts. Nida, an 8-year-old living in a container city in Hatay, finds relief through psychosocial support activities. “When the mobile van arrives, I feel really good,” she says, highlighting the importance of specialized psychological interventions.
Children participating in art therapy sessions for psychological support
Stories of Extraordinary Resilience
Among the most inspiring stories of recovery is that of Hasan, a 15-year-old Syrian boy who survived being trapped under rubble for hours. Despite losing his mother and sisters in the disaster and sustaining serious injuries, Hasan refused to let the tragedy derail his education. With UNICEF’s Cash Transfer for Basic Needs program covering his surgery costs, he studied from home and passed all his exams. “My mother’s last wish was for me to pass Grade 9. I made her wish come true,” Hasan reflects, embodying the determination of countless children across the region.
A determined student continuing her education despite challenging conditions
Community-Led Recovery Efforts
Children are not merely passive recipients of aid; they are actively participating in rebuilding their communities. In rural Al-Hasakeh, northeastern Syria, children have returned to the Dubai School after the Norwegian Refugee Council rehabilitated the facility, installing solar panels, digging wells, and repairing essential infrastructure. The school, which accommodates 600 students, now provides a more welcoming learning environment.
Children actively contributing to community rebuilding efforts through gardening
Mobile education units have played a crucial role in maintaining educational continuity. Organizations have deployed mobile vans that bring educational resources directly to displaced children, ensuring that learning continues even in the most challenging circumstances.
Mobile education units bringing learning resources to displaced children
Innovative Educational Solutions
Educational recovery efforts have embraced innovative approaches. In Syria, the Global Partnership for Education funded projects that established Non-Formal Education systems and temporary learning spaces, specifically targeting 9th and 12th graders preparing for national exams. The “Learning Cinema” initiative used affordable technology and low power consumption to provide interactive content to children in remote areas.
Over 130,000 children in Syria accessed formal or non-formal education through GPE-supported programs by the end of March 2023. These programs prioritized gender and age-appropriate learning for marginalized children while providing crucial psychosocial support.
Children returning to newly rebuilt schools with renewed hope for their future
The Role of International Support
International organizations have mobilized unprecedented resources to support children’s recovery. UNICEF alone reached 5.6 million people affected by the earthquakes in Syria, including 3.2 million children, and 4.7 million people in Turkey, including 2.4 million children, with lifesaving services in 2023.
The World Bank has committed significant funding for reconstruction, providing an additional €200 million in March 2025 to build 2,800 resilient housing units for 9,000 people in earthquake-affected areas. This investment emphasizes the “build-back-better” approach, ensuring future resilience to seismic and climate hazards.
Challenges That Persist
Despite remarkable progress, significant challenges remain. In Turkey, children in 27% of affected households continue to miss school, with financial constraints cited as the primary barrier. The rising cost of living has made basic necessities increasingly unaffordable for families already struggling with displacement and trauma.
Syrian children face additional complexities. Many were already dealing with the impacts of over 13 years of conflict before the earthquake struck. The disaster added another layer of trauma to communities already stretched beyond their limits. As humanitarian funding remains insufficient, with UNICEF Syria needing \$488.3 million for 2025 operations, the sustainability of recovery efforts faces ongoing uncertainty.
Voices of Hope
Despite overwhelming challenges, children continue to demonstrate remarkable resilience. Their stories illuminate the human capacity for hope and renewal in the face of unimaginable loss. Dilek, a 15-year-old from Antakya, dreams of a renewed life: “If I had a magic wand, I would like to renew this life completely… where there are no bad events… where I go to school”.
Young volunteers participating in community reconstruction efforts
Looking Forward: Building Resilient Communities
The earthquake recovery has sparked conversations about building more resilient communities. UNESCO’s recovery response focuses on improving school infrastructure resilience, recognizing that educational buildings serve as critical community gathering places and emergency shelters. The organization emphasizes developing strategies to reduce current risk levels while protecting vulnerable populations.
Children are increasingly involved in climate planning and disaster preparedness initiatives. Organizations like Bal Raksha Bharat have implemented resilience programs that teach children and communities to respond effectively to disasters, ensuring young voices are heard in adaptation planning.
The Path Ahead
As reconstruction continues, the focus has shifted from immediate emergency response to long-term recovery and resilience building. Over 980,000 people, including more than 500,000 children, have received support from earthquake recovery programs. These efforts encompass school repairs, vocational training, cash transfers, winter preparation support, and comprehensive mental health services.
The reconstruction of educational infrastructure remains a priority, with organizations working to repair damaged schools while establishing new temporary learning spaces. WeWorld reported supporting 20,231 boys and girls along with 291 teachers through various educational initiatives, including 14 temporary learning centers and the rehabilitation of 22 schools.
Children celebrating the opening of a new community center, symbolizing hope and renewal
Conclusion: A Testament to Human Resilience
The story of Turkey and Syria’s children rebuilding amid the rubble is ultimately one of extraordinary human resilience. Two years after the earthquakes, while significant challenges persist – from housing shortages to educational disruption to mental health needs – the determination of these young survivors continues to inspire recovery efforts.
Their stories remind us that children are not merely victims of disaster but active agents of recovery and renewal. Through their participation in educational programs, community rebuilding efforts, and advocacy for their needs, they are laying the foundation for stronger, more resilient communities.
As international attention wanes, the need for sustained support remains critical. The children of Turkey and Syria have shown that with adequate resources, psychological support, and educational opportunities, they can not only survive catastrophic events but emerge stronger, helping to rebuild their communities with wisdom gained through adversity.
The earthquake may have lasted only seconds, but the recovery will take years. Yet in the laughter of children playing in temporary learning spaces, in the determination of students studying by solar light, and in the voices of young people advocating for their communities’ future, there lies an unshakeable foundation for hope. These children are not just rebuilding from rubble – they are constructing the blueprint for a more resilient tomorrow.
Their journey continues, marked by small victories and persistent challenges, but illuminated always by the unwavering human spirit that refuses to surrender to despair. In their resilience, we find not just hope for Turkey and Syria’s future, but a powerful reminder of the extraordinary capacity of the human spirit to heal, rebuild, and thrive in the aftermath of even the most devastating disasters.https://reliefweb.int/report/turkiye/turkiyesyria-one-four-children-displaced-2023-turkiye-earthquake-yet-return-home-while-needs-syria-mount
