In 2023, a series of harsh and impactful events unfolded, leaving a clear mark on people's daily lives. Economic, political, and environmental challenges were the defining features of this difficult year, leading to heightened levels of tension and adversity.

Environmental crises escalated, with consecutive natural disasters resulting in significant losses of both property and lives. Turmoil in global politics further destabilized economic stability, adding additional challenges to societies. This article will outline the impact of key events that contributed to rising rates of hunger, unemployment, homelessness, and displacement across various countries worldwide.

Destructive Earthquakes and Hurricanes

A devastating earthquake struck southeast Turkey and parts of Syria, registering 7.8 magnitude. Nine hours later, another earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 hit the Ekin Ozu region near the city of Marash. This resulted in at least 56,000 fatalities in Turkey and around 6,000 in Syria, causing severe material damage in both countries.

On September 8, Morocco experienced a massive earthquake measuring 7 on the Richter scale, claiming 2,680 lives and leaving 25,621 injured. The quake led to the collapse of buildings and damage to archaeological sites, affecting mountain villages in the historic city of Marrakech to the northern coast of Morocco.

Two days after the Moroccan earthquake, the eastern part of Libya was hit by Hurricane "Daniel" on September 10. The hurricane swept through the cities of Derna and Benghazi, displacing thousands due to heavy floods, particularly after several dams collapsed. The aftermath resulted in the death of over 3,800 people, injuries to thousands, and around 10,000 reported missing. Some are believed to be bodies still in the sea, and several neighborhoods' infrastructure was wiped out.

War in Sudan

A bloody war has been raging in Sudan since last April, involving the army and the Rapid Support Forces (armed groups operating under the command of the army). This conflict has resulted in the death of over 12,000 people and the displacement of around 7 million from their homes. Additionally, there has been massive destruction of infrastructure, with financial losses estimated at $60 billion according to United Nations estimates.

The ongoing fighting has inflicted extensive damage on infrastructure and public facilities, disrupting essential services, particularly in the healthcare sector. The widespread presence of epidemics, such as malaria and dengue fever, has been exacerbated. Approximately 70% of hospitals are out of service, facing a severe shortage of virus testing kits, leading to the suspension of blood donations in some, despite the critical need for accident victims, war injuries, and certain diseases.

Hundreds of patients with chronic diseases, such as kidney and diabetes, have died due to a severe lack of medical care and life-saving medications. UNICEF has stated that the war in Sudan has displaced more than 3.5 million children with their families, rendering them homeless, making it the worst crisis of child displacement in the world.

war in Gaza 

On October 7th, Israel faced its largest ground attack in history initiated by the Hamas movement under the name "Aqsa Flood." The attack targeted settlements near the Gaza Strip with the aim of compelling the occupation to cease its assaults on Palestinians and Al-Aqsa Mosque, according to a statement from the movement.

Israel responded to the attack with "Operation Iron Swords," escalating into a fierce war on Gaza, not only targeting Hamas members but also affecting all inhabitants and infrastructure, including hospitals and schools, using advanced weapons and tons of explosives.

Casualties from the Israeli war have reached 20,057 martyrs and 53,320 injuries since October 7th. The majority are children and women, leading to extensive infrastructure damage and an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, as reported by Gaza authorities and the United Nations.

The war has displaced over 260,000 people within Gaza, while intense Israeli airstrikes continue by land, sea, and air, according to the United Nations.

The return of escalation in the Idlib and Aleppo countryside:

The Syrian Civil Defense, known as the "White Helmets," has announced a dangerous and systematic escalation in rocket and aerial attacks carried out by Syrian regime forces and Russia in northwest Syria. The shelling began at the end of 2023, targeting 50 cities, towns, and villages in the countryside of Idlib and Aleppo. These military operations horrifically targeted residential neighborhoods, markets, and the tents of displaced people from the earthquakes that struck Syria since last February, exacerbating the challenges for areas already grappling with the previous seismic events. During this period, the White Helmets documented the killing of 46 individuals, including 13 children and 9 women, with 213 others injured, including 69 children and 41 women.

Emergency  Response by Ensany:

Relief and humanitarian support efforts have been underway since the onset of challenging events in several cities worldwide, with Ensany launching continuous charity campaigns to provide immediate assistance to those affected.

Ensany started by providing emergency relief, organizing shelter operations, and supplying food and water to displaced individuals. Efforts included coordinating financial donation campaigns to secure essential supplies.

The organization deployed field teams to ensure effective distribution of relief and meet the needs of the affected population. Collaborative efforts were established through partnerships between organizations and charitable associations to expand the scope of charitable work.

Given the substantial needs in the Gaza Strip, Ensany, along with Gaza destek, the Arab Development Organizations Forum, and the Communication Forum, launched an international humanitarian campaign titled "Your Relief, Their Pulse." This campaign aimed to aid Gaza through crowdfunding platforms in collaboration with various international institutions. This crucial step aimed to broaden the scope of charitable work in light of the magnitude of the tragedy in the region, with the goal of providing relief, revitalizing life in the sector, meeting humanitarian needs, and alleviating the suffering of those affected by the aggression.

This swift and comprehensive response underscores our commitment to assisting the affected and needy amid challenging circumstances, reflecting the collective synergy of the organization to mitigate the negative impacts of these tragic events.