site.btaUPDATED Filippo Mazzarelli, UNICEF: Over 4.6 Mln Children Live in Areas Severely Affected by Feb. 6 Earthquakes

Over 4.6 million children live in the areas severely affected by the February 6 earthquakes in southeastern Turkiye, Filippo Mazzarelli, Chief Field Office at UNICEF in Gaziantep, Turkiye, told Bulgarian journalists in an interview.  

Mazzarelli noted that many of these children have been severely affected, they have lost their homes, they are currently outside seeking shelter amid harsh winter conditions in sub-zero temperatures. 

Conditions are extremely harsh, basic social services are lacking, many schools and hospitals have been destroyed, a very long process of reconstruction lies ahead, Mazzarelli said. He has visited Hatay, one of the hardest quake-hit areas of Turkiye. 

Mazzarelli noted that these children have suffered very severe trauma from what happened - they are scared and terrified, and need help.

Children are at high risk of becoming ill under these conditions. With the current pressures on the health system, it is very important to provide even more support to children, Mazzarelli said in response to a question from BTA whether there were reports of many sick children in the crowded tent camps given the cold temperatures in the area.

Mazzarelli pointed out that the first thing UNICEF did to help was to increase the delivery of humanitarian aid.

UNICEF has a very large base in Turkiye, and in coordination with the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), the organisation has sent over 33 000 blankets, winter clothes and other essential items to the affected regions and has evacuated many children. In coordination with the Turkish Ministry of Family and Social Services, thousands of children were evacuated to safer areas. UNICEF's field office in Gaziantep has special mobile teams to provide psychological support to the children, Mazzarelli said. 

Child protection specialist at UNICEF Sezen Yalcin said that children need psychological and social support from day one.

She said that together with the Ministry of the Family and Social Services, UNICEF is making efforts to relocate these children to the nearest safer districts, while trying to prevent families from being separated.