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Country analysis

Türkiye

Türkiye is a main transit and destination country for a large number of refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants, who are in need of humanitarian assistance.

On 6 February 2023, a 7.8 and a 7.6 magnitude earthquake hit southeastern Türkiye and northwestern Syria, aggravating the situation in the country. Another 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit the same region on 20 February 2023. As at 6 March, in Türkiye, the earthquakes had led to the deaths of more than 50,000 people, injured more than 108,000, and damaged more than 214,000 buildings.

The country currently hosts the largest number of refugees and asylum seekers in the world. There were around 3,513,000 registered Syrian refugees, over 33,000 refugees from other nationalities, and over 1,355,000 foreign nationals with residency permits as at January 2022.

Since 2014, the Eastern Mediterranean migration route has been an important migration pathway to Europe from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

Southeastern Türkiye has also been the site of conflict between government forces and Kurdish armed groups for more than 35 years, with thousands of buildings being destroyed and up to 1.1 million people displaced, although no information is available on their current displacement situation.

(IOM 31/12/2022, Reuters 31/05/2016, TRT World accessed 21/03/2023, Al Jazeera 06/02/2023, ICG accessed 22/03/2023)

Türkiye is a main transit and destination country for a large number of refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants, who are in need of humanitarian assistance.

On 6 February 2023, a 7.8 and a 7.6 magnitude earthquake hit southeastern Türkiye and northwestern Syria, aggravating the situation in the country. Another 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit the same region on 20 February 2023. As at 6 March, in Türkiye, the earthquakes had led to the deaths of more than 50,000 people, injured more than 108,000, and damaged more than 214,000 buildings.

The country currently hosts the largest number of refugees and asylum seekers in the world. There were around 3,513,000 registered Syrian refugees, over 33,000 refugees from other nationalities, and over 1,355,000 foreign nationals with residency permits as at January 2022.

Since 2014, the Eastern Mediterranean migration route has been an important migration pathway to Europe from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

Southeastern Türkiye has also been the site of conflict between government forces and Kurdish armed groups for more than 35 years, with thousands of buildings being destroyed and up to 1.1 million people displaced, although no information is available on their current displacement situation.

(IOM 31/12/2022, Reuters 31/05/2016, TRT World accessed 21/03/2023, Al Jazeera 06/02/2023, ICG accessed 22/03/2023)

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Latest updates on country situation

15 March 2023

On 15 March 2023, the cities of Adiyaman and Sanliurfa in southeast Türkiye were affected by flash floods. The areas involved were already damaged by the earthquakes of 6 and 20 February 2023. The floods destroyed roads and swept cars. Some of the containers housing people displaced by the earthquakes were flooded.
(The Guardian 16/03/2023, BBC 15/03/2023, Aljazeera 15/03/2023)

current crises
in Türkiye

These crises have been identified through the INFORM Severity Index, a tool for measuring and comparing the severity of humanitarian crises globally.

Read more about the Index

REG015 - Turkiye / Syria earthquake (regional crisis)

Last updated 28/06/2023

Drivers

Earthquake

Crisis level

Regional

Severity level

4 High

Access constraints

5.0

TUR005 - Türkiye / Syria earthquake

Last updated 31/08/2023

Drivers

Earthquake

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

3.5 High

Access constraints

3.0

REG004 - Syrian Regional Crisis

Last updated 28/06/2023

Drivers


Crisis level

Regional

Severity level

4.2 Very High

Access constraints

4.0

REG006 - Eastern Mediterranean Route

Last updated 31/08/2023

Drivers


Crisis level

Regional

Severity level

2.2 Medium

Access constraints

2.0

TUR001 - Country level

Last updated 31/08/2023

Drivers

Displacement
Conflict

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

3.8 High

Access constraints

3.0

TUR002 - Syrian refugees

Last updated 31/08/2023

Drivers

Displacement

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

3.3 High

Access constraints

2.0

TUR003 - Mixed Migration

Last updated 31/08/2023

Drivers

Displacement

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

2.3 Medium

Access constraints

2.0

TUR004 - Kurdish conflict

Last updated 31/08/2023

Drivers

Conflict

Crisis level

Country

Severity level

Access constraints

1.0

Analysis products
on Türkiye

Turkiye: situation analysis 120 days after the earthquakes

13 June 2023

Turkiye: situation analysis 120 days after the earthquakes

DOCUMENT / PDF / 2 MB

This report aims to present a comprehensive review of the main needs of the affected population in Türkiye four months after the February 2023 earthquakes, focusing on shelter, temporary settlement support, WASH, and protection.

Natual hazards

Attached resources

AudioLISTEN TO THE REPORT
TÜRKIYE: Earthquake and flooding impact in Hatay province

02 May 2023

TÜRKIYE: Earthquake and flooding impact in Hatay province

DOCUMENT / PDF / 1,022 KB

Two earthquakes hit southern Türkiye on 6 February 2023, affecting Hatay province. As at 8 April, the province had recorded over 22,000 deaths from the earthquakes, the highest reported across the 11 earthquake-affected provinces in Türkiye. Shelter needs remain an urgent priority.

Natual hazards
TÜRKIYE: Earthquake and flooding impact in Adiyaman province

02 May 2023

TÜRKIYE: Earthquake and flooding impact in Adiyaman province

DOCUMENT / PDF / 912 KB

Two earthquakes hit southern Türkiye on 6 February 2023, affecting Adiyaman province. As at 6 March, a total of 307,000 people were reported to be displaced in the province. As the temperatures are gradually starting to rise, WASH needs are expected to increase.

Natual hazards
Türkiye: Floods

24 March 2023

Türkiye: Floods

DOCUMENT / PDF / 180 KB

On 14 March 2023, only five weeks after two earthquakes struck southeastern Türkiye, severe flooding hit the southern provinces of the country. The most affected areas were Adiyaman and Sanlıurfa, which also suffered from the earthquakes on 6 February. 

Natual hazards
Syria/Türkiye: Update on the impact of earthquakes

14 March 2023

Syria/Türkiye: Update on the impact of earthquakes

DOCUMENT / PDF / 269 KB

One month after the earthquakes that hit Türkiye and Syria on 6 February 2023, recovery response is still underway. The earthquakes severely affected northwestern Syria, where about 4.5 million people live. In Türkiye, the most affected provinces are Adana, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Elazıg, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaras, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye, and Sanlıurfa, where about 14 million people reside, including 1.8 million Syrian refugees. 

Natual hazards

Attached resources

AudioLISTEN TO THE REPORT
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Related content

Syria-Türkiye earthquake

Short-term analysis project

Syria-Türkiye earthquake

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