Lessons on communication, community engagement and accountability for the Türkiye–Syria earthquake response
Damage from the earthquake in Aleppo, Syria. Photo: Sevim Turkmani/OCHA
A 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck southern Türkiye and northwest Syria on 6 February 2023, causing devastating damage and loss of life. As the disaster continues to unfold – and with a view towards recovery – humanitarian responders must prioritise the provision of life-saving information in relevant languages and formats, two-way communication and engagement with affected communities.
In a crisis of this magnitude, it will be critical to ensure that the needs of affected people inform response planning.
This briefing paper outlines top lessons and recommendations to strengthen communication, community engagement and accountability (CCEA) for the response in Türkiye and Syria.
Key lessons
People need information they can use now to stay safe and make critical decisions.
Support people to reconnect and communicate with loved ones.
Prioritise and communicate findings from early analysis to understand two-way information flows with affected communities.
Link CCEA efforts with local systems and existing coordination structures.
Rumours can be a matter of life or death – develop collective means to monitor and counter them with accurate information.
Elevate the language needs of disproportionately disadvantaged groups.
Cash will be a key component of the response: this requires specialised communication and community engagement to increase impact and resilience.
Pay special attention to the information and communication needs of marginalised groups in CCEA strategies.