Rebuilding from the ground up: Emergency Smile in Türkiye

In February 2023, a massive earthquake struck Türkiye near the Syrian border, devastating entire communities in both Türkiye and Syria. The humanitarian impact was profound, as families lost homes, loved ones, and their sense of security. In response to this tragedy, RED NOSES International deployed an Emergency Smile mission Türkiye in April 2023, followed by a second one in June 2024 to bring emotional relief to those most affected by the disaster.

Reconnecting with communities in need

Our team operated in the Hatay region, one of the hardest-hit areas in the earthquake zone, where destruction is still visible in every corner. The levels of dust and debris remain high, posing health risks, particularly for people with respiratory issues such as asthma. Despite these challenges, our mission was focused on reaching children, youth, and families in need of psychosocial relief.

14 days, 1908 people reached

Over 14 intensive days, we collaborated with 7 dedicated partner organisations, allowing us to reach a total of 1,908 people, including 1,494 children and youth, as well as 63 unaccompanied minors. Our outreach took us to local schools and to displacement camps, where we brought laughter to both Turkish and Syrian families and children coping with the aftermath of the earthquake.

RED NOSES International is committed to continuing our work to bring laughter, hope, and healing to those most in need. If you would like to support future missions like this one in Türkiye, please visit our website for more information.

If you’d like to support more missions like Türkiye’s one you can do so by visiting this link. Your support means the world to us!