Turkey Prioritizes Winter Cash Assistance for Earthquake‑Affected Provinces

LATEST MATERIAL CHANGE

What changed?

During an online meeting on 6 October 2026, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees’ Cash‑Based Interventions Technical Working Group outlined Turkey’s 2026‑27 winter cash‑assistance plan. The response will focus on the 11 provinces still impacted by the February 2023 earthquakes, where residual damage, higher need and concentrated refugee populations remain. Targeting will prioritize households that do not receive the State Social Security Number (SSN) assistance, including persons under temporary or international protection, vulnerable host‑community members, and residents of Temporary Accommodation Centres. The planning target is 52,700 refugees—about 10 % of Syrians in those provinces who are not SSN recipients. Each household will receive a TRY 5,000 base transfer, intended to cover a heating device, plus an additional amount for utilities and non‑food items based on household size. The winterisation period runs from October to April, with the most severe conditions between December and February; partners were urged to deliver assistance promptly and to account for Ramadan falling in February 2027. Ongoing coordination and information sharing are emphasized to prevent duplication and ensure effective targeting.

Why it matters

The plan delivers timely cash support to vulnerable refugees during Turkey’s harsh winter, reducing hardship and avoiding overlapping aid in earthquake‑affected regions.