Türkiye – A decade ago, Abdul Muhsin fled to Türkiye with his family, escaping the horrors of war in his home country, Syria. Like millions of Syrians who sought refuge across the northern border, he initially had a difficult time adjusting to his new life – new language, new norms, new community.
Finding his rhythm in a much bigger city than where he came from, Abdul Muhsin finally felt like he, his wife and four children were settling in well.
But the 6th of February 2023 instantly took him back to the feeling of losing almost everything.
That fateful day, devastating earthquakes struck southeast Türkiye, leaving a trail of devastation, claiming tens of thousands of lives, and displacing many more families.
Having already gone through so much hardship, Abdul Muhsin and his family were forced to relocate once again: “We had to start over from scratch."
Abdul Muhsin and his family were once again forced to start over after the earthquake hit. Photo: IOM 2024/Anıl Bahşi
What followed for Abdul Muhsin was an ordeal millions of others affected had to face. With reduced work opportunities, he could not provide medical care for his son Yusuf, who suffers from growth hormone deficiency. “Since we had to live far from the city center, I had difficulties taking my son to the hospital,” he explains.
As 2024 drew to a close, Abdul Muhsin once again feared the winter and school season magnifying his family’s needs. “Our need for school supplies, clothing, and other essentials increased. My son’s treatment was also still a major concern. We simply couldn’t afford everything.”
For Hajar, a Syrian mother of seven, life also changed overnight: “After the earthquakes destroyed everything, we lost our home and didn't know where to go.” She and her family found themselves displaced and forced to live in a temporary settlement.
To support her family, she opened a small grocery store. However, despite her efforts, her children’s growing needs often required her to take on debts. “I did my best, but it wasn’t enough.”
“There were nights when I lay awake, wondering if I would ever be able to provide enough for my children,” she admits. “There were moments I felt completely helpless.”
Hajar and her family, who lost their home in the earthquakes, still struggle to meet their daily needs. Photo: IOM 2024/Enver Muhammed
Abdul Muhsin’s and Hajar’s families are one of 2,450 who received multipurpose cash assistance (MPCA) from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in October 2024, in partnership with local authorities and with financial support from the European Union.
Since the onset of the earthquakes, MPCA has been key to helping families who continue to struggle meeting their basic needs.
For parents like Abdul Muhsin and Hajar, this allowed them to once again have hope in providing for their children and ensuring they could pursue their education.
“The cash assistance allowed us to cover school supplies, clothing, and part of my son’s treatment. Before, this was impossible,” Abdul Muhsin explains with a smile. “I remember my youngest daughter jumping with joy when she got her new backpack and pencil case. It was a small thing, but it meant the world to her.”
“It brought happiness, not just to me, but to my son and the whole family,” Abdul Muhsin adds.
For Hajar, the first thing she did was pay off her debts. “It gave me such psychological comfort. It was a weight lifted off my shoulders,” she expresses. “Most importantly, this support covered the school supplies my children needed to continue their education.”
Abdul Muhsin helps his children with their homework, reinforcing to them the importance of their education. Photo: IOM 2024/Anıl Bahşi
Two years since that tragic day, Abdul Muhsin and Hajar are taking each day as it comes and slowly picking up the pieces.
Hajar’s greatest hope is for her children to have brighter futures. “I want them to have the opportunities I didn’t have. I want them to be able to go to school and have a good life.”
Abdul Muhsin shares a similar dream, aspiring to provide his children with the opportunity to pursue their education without the weight of financial hardship. With greater financial stability, he hopes that his son Yusuf can continue receiving the hormone treatment he needs. “As a father, all I want is to give my children a better life,” he shares.
While the path to fully rebuilding their lives remains a long one, this support offered some hope and stability at an incredibly challenging time – empowering them to secure necessities that would have otherwise been out of reach.
Written by Anıl Bahşi, IOM Türkiye Communications Specialist
