Teams from the IHH continue relief efforts in Van and Erciş district. After meeting the emergency needs of the quake victims, IHH teams, which rushed to the region in the aftermath of the quake, have begun to implement long-term projects.

IHH aid teams first concentrated on search and rescue efforts and met the quake victims’ need for accommodation and emergency items. The aid teams also work for the rehabilitation of the children in the quake region and provide psychological support to them. IHH has so far reached out to 196 children who were orphaned by the quake.

In the same week a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Van in October, IHH has established a seven-member team for the registration of the orphans and missing persons. In addition to children who were orphaned by the quake, the IHH has found out that there were orphans in Van before the quake whose living circumstances have worsened after the quake. 

Carrying out orphan relief work across 30 provinces of Turkey, IHH has included the children orphaned by the quake in addition to the other orphans in the region to its Sponsor Family System which it launched in 2007.

The foundation has also launched a rehabilitation and psychological support program for the children affected by the quake. An IHH team including pedagogues, psychologists and teachers are trying to make children forget the aftereffects of the quake through entertaining materials and activities.